By Holly Kline
Fishers resident Tasha Burgoyne has been working for two years to help end poverty around the world by way of her job as Noonday Collection Ambassador. Through in-home trunk shows and her website, Burgoyne sells artisan-made jewelry, handbags, scarves and home décor items.
“We have artisans we work with in 10 different countries and they create the jewelry and other accessories,” said Burgoyne. She went on to explain that everything is handmade and that the artisans are paid upfront for the products Noonday buys and then sells to its customers. Burgoyne stated that the artisans receive four to five times the amount they would get for their products in their local marketplace.
Noonday Collection was founded as a way to fund a family’s adoption and is now a company that enables its ambassadors to earn an income while providing ways for artisans in countries like Uganda, Ethiopia, Guatemala, India and others to work their way out of poverty by selling unique jewelry and accessories.
According to Burgoyne, there are close to 700 Noonday ambassadors in the United States selling the products and just this past year Noonday has experienced growth in the Fishers, Carmel and Indianapolis areas.
Some of the most popular pieces that Burgoyne sells come from Ethiopia.
“Our pieces from Ethiopia are made by a group of people that are HIV positive,” Burgoyne said. “Some of the pieces they make are made from recycled artillery. There are farmers that go out into fields and find weapons from war. The metal is melted down and then the jewelry is made. Something so ugly is made in to something beautiful.”
Burgoyne went on to explain that Noonday does a lot of story-telling about the artisans.
“When people buy at a party or online, the product comes with a story about the artisan who made it,” she said.
Visit www.tashaburgoyne.noondaycollection.com to view the products; those interested in buying can purchase directly from the website or can contact Burgoyne about attending a trunk show where jewelry and accessories will be on display.
Burgoyne is happy to work with a company that helps to combat poverty and create sustainable jobs.
“Noonday helps some of the people in these countries find a long-term solution for poverty,” she said.
