Secret Pillows – A Mother’s Day gift which empowers
As a working mother, I tend to do a lot of running about: There are school pick ups, meetings, calls, after school activities – life can seem like it is passing in a blur. Therefore, I take time every day to sit with my kids on the sofa and snuggle, even if just for a moment. Therefore, when Secret Pillow approached me to review their pillow, which also doubles as a blanket, I was keen to know more. However, there was much more behind the story of these wonderful pillows.
The pillows themselves are gorgeous, made from 100% cotton with a polyester lining and come in a variety of patterns and colours. The first night I received it, I lay on the sofa with my head on it watching Netflix, as the night went on, I unfolded it into the blanket and before I knew it, I was asleep. It’s so lovely and cosy. The second night we had it, my son had a friend for a sleepover. It was snaffled from me, and taken upstairs to be part of their den. It has so many uses, I can imagine it would be great on a camping trip or at a festival.
But what’s the story behind the Secret Pillow?
It is quite remarkable – a story of empowerment and hope.
Fritha Vincent set up the project after learning through a report from Save The Children that 80 per cent of children in institutions are there because their parents can’t afford to take care of them. She said:
“By empowering women and providing them with access to an international market to sell their products, Secret Pillow Project believes it can be part of the solution to help keep families together.
The Secret Pillow Project was set up as a social business to empower women through making and selling Secret Pillows. Experts are deployed to run sewing workshops for groups of women who face severe challenges to realising their personal development and that of their children. Producers get a fairer than fair trade price for their pillows and for the first time have bank accounts, business prospects and hope for the future.
How does it change lives?
Within the information given to me about Secret Pillows, there was this wonderful quote from a pillow producer in Kerala:
“I was sick. I had stomach pain. I often get so sick. I used my Secret Pillow money to for treatment. I am better now. I brought cooking pots for my house. My husband is a daily wage earner. He is not enough to run the family. This money helps us a lot. Thank you for the opportunity.”
And it doesn’t end there. Not only is the money life-changing for the producers and their families – some of the profit from each pillow means more women can be offered training to become part of the Secret Pillow business. The Secret Pillow Mantra encourages self belief and persistence.
As mothers, we all strive to bring up our children to the best of our abilities, luckily, I have the resource, health and high-quality education open to both myself and my children. By buying a Secret Pillow, you are enabling another mother to have the confidence and resource to do just the same. This Mother’s Day, giving the gift of a secret pillow is one with real meaning.
Secret Pillows are delivered directly to your door, in a beautiful box, with a personalised note from the producer in India. To find out more about this wonderful project, please visit The Secret Pillow Project.
We were sent a Secret Pillow for the purpose of this review, all opinions are our own
