Afghanistan and Supporting Women
Meet an extraordinary human, Jill Kornetsky of Persian Viking Minerals
Earlier this year I met Jill Kornetsky, founder of Persian Viking Minerals, and learned of her compelling mission: to bring Afghanistan’s storied gemstones to the world in a way that is traceable, responsibly sourced, and creates a sustainable economy for rural communities - especially women.
August changed everything.
In the face of new challenges, Jill has pivoted her plan. Very briefly, this includes ensuring the safety of her trusted staff and “living into” a gem training school for women.
Having spent 7 years in-country, Jill understands the people, the communities, the land, and the geopolitics of the region. She knows the needs and the great potential for positive change - for women and beyond.
Sit in on our chat to discover “the why” behind her 501c3, Homestead Afghanistan.
Read the story, project details, and how you can help via GoFundMe:
DISCOVER “THE WHY”
If you would like to support this important project, 100% of donations are going directly to support Jill & her team.
Kindly consider donating - or sharing this with others who may be able to lend a helping hand. Even $1 helps to buy rice: https://bit.ly/3ulwo3Y
DONATE ANY AMOUNT VIA
RESPONSIBLE SOURCING: What does ethically and sustainably sourced mean for jewelry?
The jewelry you discover here is discerning because of the unique design signature and the careful consideration of the materials selected.
Just like we know where our food is from and who made our clothes, why not jewelry?
Responsible sourcing goes beyond ethically or sustainably sourced. This encompasses conflict-free, traceability, protecting people, their skills, and the environment be it land or sea. This is an open, evolving conversation worth having, as we all seek to make choices that align with our values.
As much as possible, the designers in this community do their best to choose jewelry “ingredients” that honor this.
Gemstones can be responsibly sourced or post-consumer recycled (recovered from previously worn jewelry to be reset in a new design).
For precious metals, this can mean using recycled gold - or a step further is mercury-free gold.
An ongoing initiative worth following is the Jewelry Glossary Project.
The purpose is to create shared definitions of key terms within the jewelry industry for use by the trade and the public. The project was launched to increase transparency throughout the supply chain, by building consensus on definitions for key terms and creating accountability for their usage.