As a physician, I have been hearing patient's personal stories for 24 years. I keep an "altar" in my office with photos, letters, and objects that patients bring that show that they are making a difference in the world. I also share the photos of the Novica artisana and their stories.

The way to world peace is through economic empowerment and story telling.

Bless you all for doing both.

I love he beauty of hand made crafts with the stories and pictures of the people who make them. I love the extraordinary hand made gift boxes they often arrive in. I appreciate how National Geographic supports this work and keeps the mailing costs down. Patients of mine often ask me where i got my lovely jewelry and I give them the Novica wegb site!

With your work, the world seems like a smaller, more lovely place and world peace seems like a true possibility again.