Blue Nile Traders is a relationship.

It began because of a transformative relationship in our lives. We adopted two children from the Yezelalem Minch orphanage in Addis Ababa, and it changed all of our lives. But it didn't stop there. We talked with others who had done the same thing, who also had seen their lives blessed by new children and new friends in a part of the world few of us had ever seen before.

We are fascinated by the place. The history and geography, of course, but most all by the women and children of Yezelalem Minch. We have been both disturbed and touched by their lives in this place. They live in poverty and uncertainty, afflicted by the devastation of HIV, yet the women are committed to building a micro-business to provide for their material needs and dignity. We are so impressed by the children who work to achieve to their potential and do something great with their lives.

We couldn't just be touched or impressed. Sentiment and affection did no one any good. We decided to try and actually help, to contribute to the work of Yezelalem Minch.

And so we began Blue Nile Traders. We are supporting a feeding program that supplies the children with daily meals. Each bag of Blue Nile directly feeds orphans at Yezelalem Minch.

The idea is simple: we buy from them at a fair trade price. Yet unlike a fair trade distributor, we take 100% of the profits of Blue Nile and send it back to the Yezelalem Minch feeding program.