Why I Travel

I have had several questions about why the work that started in Nashville now carries me on the road so much.

The mission remains to work for freedom and offer sanctuary. That mission just keeps casting a wider net.

I wrote this from a beautiful spot on the outskirts of Cambodia. This trip is one of many made over decades to meet with global partners of Thistle Farms.

When we started almost thirty years ago it was one house in Nashville.
Lind drawing of house
This year we celebrate an alliance of more than 70 communities around the country that have adopted a model providing free-long term housing and employment for women survivors.

We have developed Shared Trade partnerships around the world believing that together we can provide expanded markets, education, and better margins to women vulnerable to trafficking, violence and poverty.

line drawing of hands
We are making multiyear gifts through a new grant to support beautiful leaders in over 20 countries taking their rightful place as healers in their community. The goal is to support their vision of healing products, places and people. We want to support the whole ecosystem of healing.

On this trip we committed to supporting:

NOMI NETWORK, PENH LENH, and COLLECTIVE HUMANITY.

We are making long-term commitments in a shared lifelong dream for safety and economic security for thousands of women

I am grateful for everything, especially the sea of people in this world all trying to make it a more loving place.

A Spring Travelogue

Kenya & Cambodia

In Nairobi we participated in a circle to hear about development and movements in Kenya.

We are learning from over twenty local leaders from business, not-for-profit or government about about how community is the key to true conservation, food independence, and debt relief.

It’s humbling and an honor to hear from a waste picker from the largest dump site in East Africa.

There are over 8,000 pickers who look for recycling and valuable objects. They are now organizing and helping claim the value of their work.

Next we traveled to eastern Kenya where we learned more about development, the Moringa trees, and the way of tea and justice at Two Rivers Farm.

Cambodia

In Cambodia we spent our first full day learning and meeting partners, Nomi Network and Penh Lenh. Both are doing amazing work to support women at risk of poverty and exploitation.

The next day we drove six hours to a village near the Thailand border to meet with Nomi where they are training workers as a prevention to trafficking.

The fields here were abandoned due to land mines, but over the past decade they have been cleared and families are raising chickens and starting sewing cooperatives.

The women are working hard so they don't have to leave their land again.

Nomi is supporting them through small grants and they are beginning to make living wages and gain valuable skills.

Everything about exploring the world of justice gives me glimmers of hope for humanity.
The artisans, teachers, and patient coworkers feel like a powerful force for good.

-- Becca Stevens

Originally published 5/23/24

Why I Travel

Why I Travel

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