Lighting the Candle Around the World: How Thistle Farms’ Shared Trade Program Unites Survivors Across Borders
Discover how Thistle Farms' Shared Trade program lights the way for survivors across borders, uniting communities through healing and love.
Thistle Farms: Lighting the Way Home
For 27 years, Thistle Farms has gathered in Circle every Wednesday morning to light a candle in reflection and vigil for women still out on the streets, trying to find their way home. This simple yet profound ritual unites not only the Thistle Farms community in Nashville but extends its light to survivors of human trafficking and exploitation worldwide. Through Thistle Farms’ Shared Trade program, the mission of healing transcends borders, connecting with women artisans in marginalized communities impacted by war, violence, and exploitation.
Extending the Light Across the World
This past summer, members of the Shared Trade team visited artisan partners YEWO in Malawi and Not I But We in South Africa. These visits reinforced the global bond between Thistle Farms and its artisan partners. During each visit, the team introduced the ritual of Circle by lighting a hand-poured candle brought from Nashville and explaining its significance in the Thistle Farms community.
Becca Stevens, founder of Thistle Farms, often shares that she has heard the same story of violence and exploitation in 20 different languages. This truth became even more evident during these trips. Despite geographical differences, the shared experiences of survival and healing brought communities together, bridging the gap between continents.
A Collective Moment of Recognition
One of the most powerful aspects of these gatherings was how the candle ceremony transformed the conversations. In South Africa, for instance, dialogue began politely, but once the candle was lit, the room filled with deeper reflections and connections. Artisan partners saw that their struggles mirrored those of women in the United States. It became clear that women faced similar challenges worldwide, and the simple act of lighting a candle brought those shared stories to light.
A touching moment occurred with a member of YEWO’s production team. After learning about Thistle Farms’ guiding principle of "Love Heals" during a call, this artisan had set it as their WhatsApp status, where it remained ever since. During the team's visit, when the artisan saw “Love Heals” etched on the candle glass, it was a moment of great connection that transcended distance, culture, and language.
Building a Global Network of Healing
These visits weren’t only about sharing the candle ceremony; they were about building understanding. Many Shared Trade partners knew of Thistle Farms through its artisan partnerships but weren’t fully aware of the organization's broader mission in Nashville. When the candle was lit, the team shared how, at that very moment, a candle was also being lit in Nashville by survivors, staff, and volunteers—creating a global thread of connection.
As a symbol of this unity, candles were left behind with the partners. They expressed plans to light the candles whenever they wanted to reconnect with Thistle Farms, turning the flame into a beacon of hope and solidarity that spans continents.
A Global Movement for Women’s Freedom
Through the Shared Trade program, Thistle Farms goes beyond artisan partnerships. It builds a global movement for women’s freedom, including economic independence to support their families and communities. Whether through pouring candles in Nashville or crafting handmade jewelry across the world, the work is interconnected. Survivors in Nashville, Malawi, and South Africa are part of the same story: one of love, healing, and connection.
Love Heals: Lighting the Way for Survivors Worldwide
As Thistle Farms continues to grow its global partnerships, the message is clear: love knows no borders, and healing can begin anywhere. Through Shared Trade, Thistle Farms is lighting the way for survivors across the globe, creating spaces where women feel seen, heard, and supported. No matter where you are, love heals.
