Eden

We’re so excited to welcome back Eden to The Good Marketplace this year!

Eden exists to reach, rescue and restore victims of human trafficking, with all profits from sales of jewellery going towards supporting the women and girls cared for by Eden’s programs. We had the privilege of learning more about Eden’s mission from Country Manager Michelle:

Hi Michelle! Tell us a bit about yourself and Eden.

I am the Country Manager of Eden here in Australia. After my 15-year career in various sales and marketing roles in the travel industry, I moved to combine my love of business and marketing with my heart for justice and freedom for victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. After being gifted an Eden necklace for Christmas in 2015, I founded Eden here in Australia in March 2016, [and] I now work full time to run Eden locally.

Eden rescues women and girls from human trafficking and sexual exploitation. As part of their recovery process, they receive counselling, creative therapies, and vocational training. In order to break the cycle of trafficking we know it’s important to give them a steady income, so we pay the women and girls within the Eden program to design and make jewellery that we then sell around the world. This not only provides economic empowerment, it also paves the way for a bright future and has transformed the lives of so many.

Eden’s model also provides individuals all around the world, who purchase and wear the jewellery, to join the fight against the injustice of trafficking and exploitation by becoming advocates; informed and using their jewellery and voice to raise awareness and to speak up!

In Australia, Eden is a registered charity with the ACNC. It is our goal that the world is one day free of modern-day slavery.

What are you passionate about?

I’m really passionate about telling Eden’s story. After 20 years, we’ve rescued thousands of people and encountered some amazing stories that have made us cry, laugh, become angry, and be grateful for our own situations.

People are very receptive to Eden’s heart of ending slavery and I love raising awareness about the issue.

What does ethical consumerism mean to you?

I think ethical consumerism is the future of consumption in Australia. Every year, customers are more and more mindful of how the products they buy impact those who made them.

Through my work at Eden, we’ve seen the positive response from so many customers that love that they’re not only buying a beautiful piece of jewellery, but providing employment to someone in Southeast Asia who has been rescued from trafficking and is on their own journey.

Describe your perfect day!

My perfect day can look like many things… I love my family, I love my job, I am incredibly grateful for my network of fun and supportive friends – who are often also colleagues, and I love seeing and experiencing new things though nature, food (and wine) and travel.

Any day that has a good mix of any of these things is a pretty great day in my book!

__

Come support Eden at the One Good Christmas Market:

Date/Time: Thursday 7th December, 4- 9pm

Location: 184 Surrey Rd, Blackburn VIC 3130, Australia

FREE Entry