Indiana Woman’s Mission Brings Jobs & Joy to Honduras

In 2021, Indiana native Sarah Capehart transformed her passion for jewelry and commitment to social impact into Alegria Accessories, a company dedicated to empowering young women in Honduras through meaningful employment. The name "Alegria," meaning "joy" in Spanish, reflects the company's mission to create joy through job opportunities.

PHOTO S. CAPEHART ALEGRIA JOY TEAM

From Evansville to Honduras: A Mission of Empowerment

Sarah's journey began in 1998 when her parents moved to Honduras to establish a home for orphaned and abandoned children. Inspired by their dedication, Sarah envisioned a way to support these children as they transitioned into adulthood. Combining her experience in the jewelry industry with her desire to make a difference, she founded Alegria Accessories to provide sustainable employment for young women aging out of the children's home.

Crafting Opportunities: The Alegria Team

Starting with three part-time artisans on a porch in Honduras, Alegria Accessories has grown to employ seven full-time artisans. These talented women handcraft unique, high-quality jewelry in an air-conditioned workspace, ensuring both comfort and safety. Each piece is made with hypoallergenic materials, including generously plated or filled precious metals and genuine semi-precious stones, reflecting the company's commitment to quality and ethical production.

PHOTO S. CAPEHART ALEGRIA JOY COLLAGE

Fair Trade Commitment and Community Impact

Alegria Accessories is proudly Fair Trade Verified, adhering to principles of fair wages, safe working conditions, and the abolition of slave and child labor. By providing stable employment, the company not only transforms the lives of its artisans but also positively impacts their families and communities. Customers, referred to as "Joy-Creators," play a vital role in this mission, as their purchases directly support these opportunities.

Supporting Women-Owned Businesses in Indiana

As an Indiana-based, women-owned business, Alegria Accessories exemplifies the power of entrepreneurship in driving social change. By partnering with stores across the United States, the company extends its reach, allowing more customers to participate in creating joy through their purchases. These collaborations amplify the impact, fostering a community dedicated to empowering women both locally and globally.

PHOTO S. CAPEHART ALEGRIA

Join the Movement: Shop with Purpose

Every piece of jewelry from Alegria Accessories tells a story of resilience, craftsmanship, and hope. By choosing to shop with Alegria, customers not only adorn themselves with beautiful accessories but also contribute to a greater cause—empowering women in Honduras to build brighter futures.

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Shop the collection and learn more about Alegria Accessories' mission at their official website.

For a deeper insight into the heart and mission behind Alegria Accessories, watch the following video featuring Founder and Chief Joy Officer, Sarah Capehart:

LOOK: Milestones in women's history from the year you were born

Women have left marks on everything from entertainment and music to space exploration, athletics, and technology. Each passing year and new milestone makes it clear both how recent this history-making is in relation to the rest of the country, as well as how far we still need to go. The resulting timeline shows that women are constantly making history worthy of best-selling biographies and classroom textbooks; someone just needs to write about them.

Scroll through to find out when women in the U.S. and around the world won rights, the names of women who shattered the glass ceiling, and which country's women banded together to end a civil war.

Gallery Credit: Isabel Sepulveda