We are very excited to share that the first Prosperity Candles available for purchase have arrived in New York. Their journey started in the kitchens of women who have been trained in candle-making and seek to support their families through their own thriving businesses. From there, they traveled to the office of Women for Women International, and on to the ancient (and calm) city of Erbil near the border with Turkey.

Later this week the candles will reach our warehouse where Amber, Siiri, Ted and volunteers will check the quality and carefully package each of these beautiful expressions of hope for a better future.

To all those who have supported us throughout the past year, thank you – this is a great moment. And to the many who have already purchased… your Mother’s Day candles are on their way!

As the first candles for export are collected, we asked each woman to share her hopes and dreams for the future of her business.  Wafa would like her candles to find a very special home.

With security measures shutting down Baghdad during the recent elections, Prosperity Candle made sure the entrepreneurs were equipped with enough supplies to continue making candles without needing to leave home. Below are some of their reflections about this time of change.

Lama'a making candles in her kitchen

Lama’a was very proud of her ink-covered finger (indicating she had voted), and reported that she headed for a polling station with her husband after removing her 12^th candle from its mold.  She voted for a better future for their children.

Huda is proud of her candle production. She hopes the election will build a strong community, just as she and other women are building beautiful candles.

Majeeda is dissatisfied with the current situation and is hoping that the elections will lead to a better government that will reduce the violence. Women are losing family members and husbands, and more and more are becoming widows like her. The joy in her life is when she is in the kitchen making candles.

Awatif reports with a smile on her face that “elections are very important and all Iraqis must participate and never let others to take our right from us – that’s why I voted”.

Nazahat voted in the election and hopes for a new parliament and government that will work to achieve peace – something that Iraqis miss in their lives. She said, “Prosperity Candles give me a sense of peace whenever I pour one.”