At Ciudad de Niños home, a Food For The Poor-supported orphanage in western El Salvador, the children sell fragrant candles for $1 and make an 80-cent profit with each purchase.
The soy wax is provided by generous donors, the glass is made with recycled bottles collected from the area, and the red heart and ribbons seen poking out from the center are purchased for a mere 20 cents.
The orphanage sells the decorative candles to beach-goers in and around El Tunce, a resort town that draws tourists with its awesome surfs and year-round sunshine. All profits from this project are used to fund the orphanage’s operations.
In an effort to equip children with skills and prepare them for the future, in addition to providing safe shelter, Food For The Poor supports many income-generating projects that benefit orphanages such as this candle-making initiative.
WATCH BEYOND THE PLATE EPISODES LIVE IN OUR STUDIO
Join Paul and Danny live in the studio for Season 2 of Beyond the Plate as they engage in thought-provoking conversations with a powerful lineup of guests. From Barron Segar, CEO of World Food Program USA, and Monica Majors of World Central Kitchen, to Steve Urchin, manager of Sean Paul, and global music icon Shaggy, each episode dives deep into stories that go far beyond feeding the hungry. This season shines a light on thought leaders, innovators, and changemakers who are breaking the cycle of poverty and driving lasting impact through compassion and creativity.
You'll also hear inspiring perspectives from Cedella Marley, daughter of the legendary Bob Marley, Christian singer Blanca, and beloved Hispanic star Angélica Vale, as they share how uniting communities through sustainable development can create meaningful, long-term change. Tune in for powerful stories of hope, resilience, and real solutions that uplift lives and nourish the soul.
Why Support our new Pilot Initiative
A Mercado Global handbag isn’t just an accessory—it’s a meaningful gift that represents hope and resilience. When you shop on our website you're making the statement that poverty isn't inevitable.
Every purchase helps create a stable economic environment within impoverished communities, which can lead to food security and reduce dependency on aid. It’s an investment in breaking the cycle of poverty through fair trade practices that uplift entire communities.
Each handbag is a unique piece of art, handcrafted by skilled artisans who draw on traditional techniques passed down through generations. This supports cultural preservation while giving artisans a source of pride and financial independence.
Flora Petite Crossbody in Turf Moss
The Flora Petite Tote is a square silhouette trimmed with leather piping and paired with structured leather handles. The detachable leather strap means you can carry it comfortably over your shoulder or remove it to wear in hand for an on-trend look.
The Flora Petite Tote features a square silhouette trimmed with leather piping and paired with structured leather handles. The detachable leather strap means you can carry it comfortably over your shoulder or can be removed to wear in hand for an on-trend look.
Featuring a leather wristlet and zipper pull, our Mini Lily conveniently and stylishly stores your essentials. Keep in your handbag as an organizer and remove for a chic night look!
Handbags are ethically crafted, prioritizing fair labor practices and sustainable production. With each purchase, you’re helping prove that we can tackle poverty through sustainable community development.
Buying a Mercado Global handbag provides sustainable income for artisans in marginalized communities, directly helping them support their families. By working part-time, artisans can make up to $8 a day, which is enough to lift themselves out of poverty over the course of a few months of engagement.
By shopping with us, you’re supporting a test initiative designed to demonstrate that we can build a sustainable, closed-loop system between our micro-enterprise programs and an online marketplace. If the test is sucessful we'll be able to scale up our programs.
Click any flag to see how we serve those in extreme poverty in that country
