By Deborah Reed
WKTV Contributor
greer@wktv.org
Handblown glass ornaments have been helping protect women across the world since 2009, and local businesses can now be a part of that process.
Women At Risk, International (WAR, Int’l) in Wyoming launched their annual Ornament Campaign in March and are now accepting registrations from businesses willing to host an ornament tree.
“Over the years, the Ornament Campaign has helped WAR, Int’l and its partners to rescue, restore and empower hundreds of women and children around the world and here in the U.S.,” said Peggy Driesenga, WAR, Int’l Program Lead.
Each ornament is made in Egypt from handblown glass ornaments with 12K gold paint detailing. Participating businesses receive a variety of ornaments, including traditional bells and shapes to all kinds of animals and sea creatures (giraffes, horses, hippos, whales, puffer fish and more). Each ornament runs between 25-$35. Every $300 in sales shelters a woman in an international safehouse for a month.
The Ornament Campaign has raised thousands of dollars for WAR, Int’l programs and partners.
Founded 20 years ago by Rebecca McDonald, WAR, Int’l creates circles of protection and hope around at-risk women and children through culturally sensitive, value-added intervention projects. WAR, Int’l addresses a variety of areas of risk, but is best known for its fight against human trafficking.
“More than 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders each year,” said Driesenga, adding that human trafficking happens in every race, gender and socio-economic class throughout the world.
“Here in the U.S., sex trafficking is a $32 billion industry. Women At Risk, International has responded to trafficking situations with women in their later years and babies who were only a few weeks old.”
Behind the veil
The Ornament Campaign was specifically established to reach the hearts and lives of Middle Eastern women.
Cultivating relationships with male artisans from 10 glass factories in Egypt has allowed WAR, Int’l to interact with their wives and daughters. Through these connections and business partnerships, WAR, Int’l has been able to design programming specific to these women’s needs. Ornament sales has allowed the nonprofit to now offer educational and medical scholarships as well as sponsor a local safe-house.
More valuable than gold
Alongside the provision of essential programming in the Middle East, WAR, In’l also delivers messages of worth and value to the women.
“Each purchase communicates that they are beautiful, unique and deserve to be treasured and protected—just like the handblown glass ornaments fashioned by their fathers and husbands,” states the WAR, Int’l website.
A simple email can save lives
The process to host an ornament tree is simple: send an email and then let WAR, Int’l do the work.
Businesses can sign up to host an ornament tree by emailing ornamentcampaign@warinternational.org or call 616-855-0796. WAR, Int’l will bring the tree or businesses may supply their own.
“We bring the ornaments and will even set it up for them,” Driesenga explained. “We provide the order sheets and everything a business needs to sell the ornaments. We will also restock the business if they need it, and then we come and take down the display at the end of the campaign.”
Ornament Campaign trees are set up in November 2026 and disassembled within the first two weeks of January 2027.
By partnering with WAR, Int’l and allowing business patrons to purchase ornaments immediately off the office displays, light is spread in the lives of at-risk women and children around the world.
Ornaments also can be purchased at the WAR Chest Boutique in Wyoming (2790 44th St. SW).
The organization exceeds normal fair trade standards by ensuring artisans work in clean, well-lit factories. They also are paid per piece, averaging three times the minimum wage. More information about Women At Risk, International and the resources and educational programs they offer can be found here.
