One Purse accepting donations, supporting women overcoming abuse – WESH

Organizational Report: One Purse’s Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

One Purse, an Orlando-based non-profit organization, has developed a multifaceted program that directly supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By reselling donated designer purses, the organization provides employment, skills training, and scholarships to women survivors of domestic abuse, trafficking, and exploitation. This report outlines the organization’s operational model, community initiatives, and its significant contributions towards achieving SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Program Model: Fostering Economic Independence and Decent Work

The core of One Purse’s mission is an employment program that empowers survivors by providing them with financial independence and relevant job skills, directly addressing key SDGs.

• SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): The program offers paid employment to a vulnerable demographic, providing a stable income and a pathway out of poverty and systemic inequality.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Participants receive hands-on training in a safe and supportive environment. The skills acquired are directly applicable to the modern job market, including:
  1. Product preparation (cleaning and pricing)
  2. E-commerce platform management
  3. Inventory and sales processing
• SDG 5 (Gender Equality): The entire initiative is centered on empowering women who have experienced gender-based violence, providing them with the economic tools necessary to reclaim their lives and achieve autonomy.

Alignment with Circular Economy and Responsible Consumption

One Purse’s business model is inherently sustainable, promoting a circular economy that extends the lifecycle of consumer goods.

• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): By collecting, refurbishing, and reselling “pre-loved” purses, the organization actively participates in sustainable consumption. This model reduces waste and challenges the linear “take-make-dispose” model of the fashion industry. The revenue generated from these sustainable sales directly funds the empowerment programs.

Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement

The success of One Purse is amplified through strategic collaborations, highlighting the importance of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

• Community Champions: Local partners, such as interior designer Tina Crossley, leverage their skills to raise awareness and funds. Crossley’s design of a themed tree for the Festival of Trees at the Orlando Museum of Art served as a successful awareness and donation collection campaign.
• Financial Partnerships: Collaboration with entities like the Big Nova Foundation, which has pledged to match donations up to $200,000, demonstrates a powerful partnership model for scaling social impact.
• Public Outreach: The organization utilizes events like the upcoming “Sip and Shop” holiday sale to engage the community, drive sales that support its mission, and promote its sustainable model.

Current Initiatives and Goals

To sustain and expand its impact, One Purse has set clear operational targets.

1. Donation Drive: A current goal to collect 5,000 donated purses to fuel the e-commerce program and provide continued employment for program participants.
2. Fundraising Campaign: A matching grant initiative with the Big Nova Foundation to secure up to $200,000 in additional funding for its programs.
3. Community Sales Event: A “Sip and Shop” event scheduled for the first Friday of December to sell its collection in person, with proceeds reinvested into its mission.

Relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• SDG 1: No Poverty

  The article highlights that One Purse is on a mission to empower women towards “economic freedom” and “financial independence.” By providing jobs and scholarships, the organization directly addresses poverty alleviation for a vulnerable group of women, helping them rebuild their lives and achieve economic stability.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  This is a central theme, as the organization’s mission is to “educate, employ and empower women overcoming abuse, addition, exploitation and trafficking.” The article explicitly focuses on supporting women who have survived “domestic abuse and trafficking,” which are severe forms of violence against women. The entire initiative is geared towards empowering women and achieving gender equality.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article details an “employment program where we employ the women coming from those situations to run an e-commerce purse shop.” This program provides jobs and teaches “skills that are in demand for the job market in a safe environment,” directly contributing to productive employment and decent work for a marginalized segment of the population.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The operational model of One Purse is based on collecting, reselling, and reinvesting “pre-loved” and “gently-used” purses. This promotes a circular economy by encouraging the reuse of goods, which reduces waste and supports sustainable consumption patterns.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article demonstrates various partnerships to achieve its mission. This includes collaboration with local champions like interior designer Tina Crossley, media outlets like WESH 2 for awareness, and financial partners like the “Big Nova Foundation,” which is matching donations. These partnerships are crucial for the organization’s success and impact.

Specific SDG Targets

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.

     The article directly addresses this target by stating that One Purse works with women “reclaiming their lives after domestic abuse and trafficking” and those “overcoming abuse, addition, exploitation and trafficking.” The organization provides a support system for survivors of these specific forms of violence.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value.

     The organization’s employment program is a direct effort to achieve this target for the women it serves. The article states that the program employs women and helps them learn “skills that are in demand for the job market,” aiming to provide them with decent work and a path to “financial independence.”

3. SDG 1: No Poverty

   • Target 1.4: By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources…

     By providing “jobs and scholarships,” One Purse gives vulnerable women direct access to economic resources. The goal of achieving “economic freedom” for these women aligns perfectly with this target.

4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.

     The entire business model is built on reuse. The article mentions the organization “resells and reinvests gently-used, ‘pre-loved’ purses.” This practice of collecting and reselling donated items directly contributes to reducing waste.

Implied Indicators for Measurement

1. For SDG 5 (Gender Equality) & SDG 8 (Decent Work)

   • Number of women supported by the programs.

     This is a primary indicator of the organization’s reach and impact. While a specific number isn’t given for total women served, the focus on empowering “women overcoming abuse” implies this is a key metric for their success.

   • Number of women employed in the e-commerce program.

     The article’s emphasis on the “employment program” suggests that the number of women participating and gaining skills is a crucial measure of progress towards providing decent work.

   • Number of scholarships provided.

     The article explicitly states that the nonprofit “provides jobs and scholarships,” making the quantity of scholarships awarded a direct indicator of their educational support.

2. For SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption)

   • Number of purses collected.

     This is explicitly mentioned as a key performance indicator in the article: “we have a goal this year to to collect 5000 purses.” This directly measures the scale of their reuse initiative.

3. For SDG 17 (Partnerships)

   • Amount of funds raised through donations and matching grants.

     The article provides a specific financial indicator related to its partnership with the Big Nova Foundation: “currently matching every dollar donated up to $200,000.” This measures the financial success of their collaborative fundraising efforts.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

Source: wesh.com