What do a jewelry designer in the UK and a little girl from Afghanistan have in common? Turquoise Mountain, a Kabul-based nonprofit, where artists and designers like Pippa Small, an anthropologist/jewelry designer, work with local artisans to help revive Afghanistan’s traditional arts (i.e., jewelry making), promote local gems and craftsmanship and create jobs. Proceeds helped fund an adult literacy center, a library and schools like the one where the girl in our photograph is learning to read. Turquoise Mountain’s Institute for Afghan Arts & Architecture is an arts and vocational training program for Afghans who gain skills in jewelry and gem cutting, calligraphy and painting, wood working and ceramics. After stints with top designers like Gucci, Nicole Farhi, and Chloe, Small decided to focus on ethical and fair-trade jewelry and she’s been partnering with Turquoise Mountain ever since. turquoisemountain.org