Fair Trade: Good for People, Good for the Planet

Recently, we focused on Mai Vietnamese Handicrafts‘ coiled magazine products and artisan group Sapia‘s work with tagua nut (the “vegetable ivory”) and orange peels. For Valentine’s Day, we took a tour through some of the hearts and roses that our different artisan groups have to offer, plus the “Double Your Love” earrings recycled from metal air freshener cans by Bombolulu Workshops in Kenya.

In celebration of Earth Day 2013, we’re introducing you to other environmental heroes and upcycling masters from South Africa, Burkina Faso, Nepal, Guatemala, India and the Philippines…

Intern Corey jams on a thumb piano for the soda can critters.

Atelier de Formation et de Promotion des Artisans and Africa Home

Burkina Faso and South Africa

The “thumb piano” or Kalimba has been played throughout Africa for thousands of years. Its song was believed to draw spirits from heaven back to Earth. Because they were commonly used by traveling storytellers called griots, an indigenous translation of the word is, “that which makes walking easier.” Our thumb pianos are handcrafted by the Atelier de Formation et de Promotion des Artisans of Burkina Faso, and are hand-tuned and handcrafted from cans, wood and metal.

Victor Chiteura and artisan George Gareta

The South African artisan group African Home was founded in 2002 by two women to provide employment in craft production for disadvantaged artisans. Now the group works with 500 artisans in 90 groups. Artisan Victor Chiteura, a Zimbabwean refugee, leads his team in Cape Town in the production of these soda can critters.

Upavim and Mayan Hands, Guatemala

Volunteers Rebecca (L) holds cosmetic cases woven from plastic bags and Kathryn wears a pull-tab necklace while holding butterfly earrings made of cans.

Upavim is in the spotlight for its awesome ability to upcycle products into adorable and attention-grabbing accessories like these colorful butterfly earrings made of soda cans, or this regal-looking pull-tab necklace. Supporting not only women in the community, Upavim has developed a medical clinic and a daycare center with Montessori-trained teachers.

Mayan Hands was established in 1989 and works with about 150 women in eight Guatemalan communities. Mayan Hands seeks to preserve the ancient Mayan weaving tradition while providing a fair work environment, and eco-conscious customers love their interesting and innovative approach to weaving with plastic bags.

Rolling out the Recycled Tire Products for Earth Day

with Ganesh Himal Trading Co. and Hope for Women!

Alice May with our tire display! We have lots of unique recycled-tire products from Ganesh Himal of Nepal, Sapia of Colombia, and Noah’s Ark of India.

Improperly discarded tires impose huge threats to our health and the environment. Tires become a breeding ground for disease-causing pests, and their incineration and decomposition release toxic chemicals into the atmosphere.

Groups that have mastered the art of stylishly upcycling tires include Ganesh Himal, an American importer that works mostly with Nepalese women and Tibetan refugees, and Hope for Women, a collective of women artisan groups in El Salvador, India and Colombia. Hope for Women also works with Sapia, which designs the ReStyle line of bracelets, wallets, and bags crafted from tires.

Rosa, a Hope for Women artisan: “I think the sky is the limit for me. It doesn’t matter that I didn’t have the chance to study when I was young. With this work, I know I will be growing everyday and I can take care of myself and my family.”

Mother and daughter volunteers Carmen and Eva display some recycled bike products: a clock, frame, bottle opener, and a birdhouse made of weaved candy wrappers!

Noah’s Ark International Exports

Moradabad, India

In 1986 Samuel Masih founded Noah’s Ark in a family home in hopes of preserving the handicraft traditions of India, and it provided fair work for artisans at risk of exploitation. Today Noah’s Ark represents 49 artisan groups, employing over 500 artisans who all make fair living wages (which are 10%-15% higher than the average wage of the local economy). In addition to providing steady incomes and a safe work environment, Noah’s Ark developed the NGO Noah’s Ark Handicrafts and Artisan Welfare Society, which oversees four social welfare programs.

The Women’s Multipurpose Co-op

Baguio City, The Philippines

Volunteers Jessica (L) and Teresa with some of our coolest recycled newspaper products. The Women’s Multipurpose Co-op also makes products from juice boxes, candy wrappers and chip bags.

The Women’s Multipurpose Co-op was established in the Philippines to provide employment for women struggling during grim economic conditions following the 1990 Luzon earthquake, the 1991 Mt. Pinatubo eruption, and the subsequent abandonment of the Clark Air Base by the American military. The Co-op was originally a group of 18 women pooling their resources to aid each other with training, product development, marketing, and savings and loans. After developing a line of products made of recycled materials like newspapers, juice boxes, chip bags and candy wrappers, the Co-op has expanded from the original 18 to 33 women, with an additional 200 artisans working on transforming trash into treasure!

Women’s Multipurpose Co-Op artisans working on a handbag woven from snack bags

Thank you for accompanying me throughout the world of fair trade upcycling! All over the world, people are realizing the dire situation of our planet and are taking a stand against wastefulness and destruction through the creation of beautiful crafts.

As author E. Knight said, “Waste not the smallest thing created, for grains of sand make mountains, and atomies infinity.”

Love,

Becca

Celebrating 103 Years of Phenomenal Women

The 103 International Women’s Day  is Friday, March 8th, and Ten Thousand Villages of Austin is celebrating all week with events at our store every night this week until 9 pm.

First, a little history…

In 1909, the first National Women’s Day was celebrated in America in accordance with a Socialist Party declaration on February 28th. A year later, the second International Conference of Working Women met in Copenhagen, Denmark. The conference had over 100 women from 17 different countries, representing working women’s clubs, unions, and socialists. They all voted in favor of an idea presented by German advocate Clara Zetkin for an International Women’s Day for women all over the world to fight for the rights to equality, voting and holding office.

Clara Zetkin, the mother of International Women’s Day

The first day was celebrated in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switerland on March 19 in 1911; in 1913 it was decided that the date should be moved to March 8th, and has been celebrated on this day since 1914. March 8th is now a recognized holiday in 27 countries, including Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Russia, Uganda, and Vietnam.

Much progress has been made over the past century; however, the fact remains that women are still paid 30-40% less than men for comparable work. Seventy percent of fair trade artisans are women; the income generated by these women is often the sole income for the woman’s family, and with the fair wage provided by fair trade jobs, women are investing in the education, health, and future of their children, thus ensuring a more promising future.

Africa

Ngong Hills, Kenya

Namayiana means “we are blessed” in Maa

Namayiana was started in 1986 by a group of women of the  Maasai ethnic group of Kenya and Northern Tanzania. The women of Namayiana make beaded jewelry, a tradition that goes back to when “the first Maasai was born.” The Maasai culture places a strong emphasis on body painting, ornamentation and modification to help identify and differentiate individuals. The colors of the beads of the jewelry have special significance: white is peace, blue is water, red is warrior.

Maasai society is strongly patriarchal, with decision-making in the hands of elder men.  The women of Namayiana came together to try to create a way for their children to go to school. Agnes, a Namayiana artisan who recently learned to drive a car, explains:

“We decided as women to own everything and work among ourselves. After driving the car, I came to know that anybody can do anything. I never went to school, but because we have educated our children, we look for a bright future.”

Dzivarasekwa, Zimbabwe

Batsiranai translates to “helping each other” in Shona, the local language. Their motto is “Batsiranai has made us fat and fatter!”

Batsiranai Craft Project was formed in 1998 as a support group of 14 for mothers of disabled children. In Zimbabwe, the disabled and their families are often shunned from society and extended family, forcing many into extreme poverty. When the 14 women realized their shared talent for embroidery, they decided to create a handicraft business that would provide income to support their families. Since 1998, the success of the business has allowed Batsiranai to expand to 100 members, and purchase two houses used as a daycare center, physical therapy center, office and work space, and housing for three families. They are managed by a committee of seven who are democratically elected. They are members of the World Fair Trade Organization and the Zimbabwe Parents of Disabled Children Association. Ten Thousand Villages sells “Sharing Dolls” from Batsiranai: Each time a doll is purchased, its twin is given to a child affected by HIV/AIDS.

South Asia

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Corr-The Jute Works: Christian Organization for Relief and Rehabilitation

In 1971, Bangladesh suffered a brutal genocide, leaving many of the surviving women destitute and alone. CORR- The Jute Works  was founded in 1973 to provide job opportunities to uplift and empower the mothers, daughters, and sisters of this ravaged nation. CORR has hired more than 4,000 women regardless of their ethnicity, religion, or caste level. Many women work from their own homes and self manage by democratically electing a president and a secretary to distribute work amongst their group. If a woman is having a particularly hard time financially, this is considered in the distribution of work. CORR has also established a number of community welfare projects like installing sanitation in artisans’ homes, building wells to provide pure water, offering financial help with medical emergencies, and starting health programs for pregnant women.

Artisan Haricha Begum, who has worked with CORR since 1980, says:

“My dream came true. My sorrows have all gone and my hope has been fulfilled.”

East Asia

San Patong, Thailand

Grassroots HQ Co. ltd

Grassroots HQ Co. ltd is an alternative trade organization that markets for Thai cooperatives, like White Lotus, whichworks to empower and employ women in San Patong, Thailand. San Patong is a very poor area where women are often lured or sold into prostitution. This area also has a very high rate of HIV infection. Grassroots provides AIDS education, awareness and training for care of those affected by AIDS. White Lotus hand-makes beautiful batiked paper from mulberry leaves, which are renewable resources.

Middle East

Galilee Region, Israel

Sindyanna of galilee

Sindyanna of Galilee is a women-led nonprofit established in 1996 to empower Arab women in northern Israel, as well as olive farmers and other artisans in Palestinian Occupied Territories. Sindyanna strengthens the economy of the Arab-Palestinian population and emphasizes cooperation between Arabs and Jews. It provides maternity and retirement benefits, educational projects, and organizes a summer camp for artisans’ children. The name of the organization is a reference to the Palestine Oak, symbolic for its endurance, stability and of the Arab population who remained in Israel. On March 8th, the Arab and Jewish women of Sindyanna will meet in Tel Aviv with other organizations  to march for equality and celebrate International Women’s Day together.

Latin America

Santiago, Guatemala

Creaciones Chonita

Creaciones Chonita is a small business located on the coast of Lake Atitlan and was founded in 1981 by Concepción Sojuel Mendoza, an indigenous Mayan woman who lost her husband in the violence of the Civil War and needed a way to support herself and her children. Since 1981, Creaciones has grown to support 45 widows and young women full-time and 35 part-time. The women make a fair wage for their work, and a percentage of the proceeds are put aside for social projects, such as a scholarship fund for needy children, and a program that provides monthly food packages to elderly widows. Additionally. Creaciones has taken part in building a school for 225 children and is working on a senior citizens center.

Guatemala City, Guatemala

Unidas Para Vivir Mejor: United for a Better Life

UPAVIM was started in 1988 to provide health and education services for women on the outskirts of Guatemala City living in a squatter community called “La Esperanza.” The women of UPAVIM are mothers, homemakers, widows and in many cases the sole breadwinners of their families. The women must first volunteer 32 hours, and continue to volunteer two hours a week at the UPAVIM community care center. In addition to crafts, UPAVIM has started other small businesses such as a bakery, pharmacy and an internet center. Through UPAVIM, donors also fund scholarships for 430 elementary and junior high students. Profits also go to running a Montessori Infant Education Center and an Alternative Elementary School.

So, in the spirit of all women, let’s share in the success of our sisters everywhere, and as we move forward remember all that our fore-mothers have fought for and accomplished. Keep fighting for equality and respect for all women of the world in their honor!

With Love,

Your Sister,

Becca

The Season for Sapia

Greetings Fair Traders,

Please allow me to introduce you to Ana Maria Piedrahita, her artisan group from Columbia, Sapia, and their use of the ecological wonder-nut tagua and dried orange peels! Ana Maria founded Sapia in Columbia’s capital of Bogota to assist artisans working in the lower income brackets. Sapia employees 40 people directly; as the company grows, it reaches out to other artisan groups in rural areas to assist more than 50 other artisans.

Columbia ranks as one of the highest per capita in orange juice consumption. In Bogota, many street corners are occupied by venders selling fresh squeezed orange juice, and Ana Maria innovativly recognized the discarded peels as a nice material to create beautiful products.

Sapia thus provides additional income to these juicers by paying for their orange peels so that they can create the items that Catherine is modeling for us here: the Orange Peel Angel, Orange Peel Garland, and the Orange Peel Christmas Trees.

Sapia also crafts items out of Tagua, otherwise known as the “vegetable ivory.” Tagua is seen as a highly eco-friendly material because its strong resemblance to ivory helps combat the poaching of elephants. In fact, the scientific name of the palm the tagua comes from the Phytelephas, which translates to “plant elephant.” Taguas are harvested when the nut ripens and falls from the tree, making this resource material environmetally friendly as it discourages rainforest deforestation.

Ana Maria feels like the most important benefit to fair trade are the long-term relationships that allow for her and her employees to plan for the future and grow their business, as well as the respect that a fair trade business relationship provides. She would like customers to understand that they are not doing charity, “they are supporting the lives of people who want to work.” Ana Maria says that she “feels really happy and connected to the people. I think my work can connect me to people like sharing smiles.”

Celebrate the intimacy that fair trade provides and share a smile today!

Your Chief Story Teller,

Becca

Howdy Y’all! It’s me, Chief Becca!

Greetings, Fair Traders!

Just me being excited about fair trade and elephants!

It’s me, Becca! I’m brand spankin’ new to blog world, so allow me to briefly introduce myself:

I began volunteering at Ten Thousand Villages of Austin (TTVoA) in March 2010, shortly after attending a mandatory “fair trade vs. free trade” workshop at St. Edward’s University. About a year after that, I happily accepted a lead volunteer position and took on some outreach and education roles for TTVoA and for Fair Trade Towns USA, Austin. I’ve taken part in several TTVoA events, such as the first and second film festivals, the first and third One Reason Why events, this last year’s World Fair Trade Day celebration, and a handful of other small projects. I began my interim position at the store as “Chief Storyteller” in September, and have since collected information on various artisan groups from around the world that I will be sharing with you here. (We’ve got some catching up to do!)

I’m so excited to share what I’ve learned with you here! For me, the most wonderful thing about fair trade is developing a connection between the producer and the consumer. The holidays are coming up, so it’s important to remember when we give our loved ones a fair trade gift, you’re not only giving a product, you’re giving a story of growth, triumph and empowerment.

With Love,

Chief Becca

All You Need Is One Reason Why

One Reason Why

An Evening of Art with Ten Thousand Villages

The One Reason Why Collection features one-of-a-kind, fairly traded, artisan crafted pieces  from around the world. Gallery pieces will be available throughout the evening as well as items in the silent auction and gallery gift shop. This unique collection will be on display for only one night.

Sponsors are invited to come to the gallery one hour before the beginning of the evening’s event to take a “sneak peek” at the art displayed. Items in the gallery will be available for purchase during the preview hour. Volunteers will be available to answer questions and talk about the reasons why they support the fair-trade movement.

Sponsorships

Global Sponsor- $1000; 8 One Reason Why tickets, 4 sneak peek tickets, $100 discount*

Continental Sponsor- $500; 6 One Reason Why tickets, 4 sneak peek tickets, $50 discount*

Regional Sponsor- $250; 4 One Reason Why tickets, 2 sneak peek tickets, $25 discount*

Village Sponsor- $175; 2 One Reason Why tickets, 2 sneak peek tickets, $15 discount*

*Discounts good for gallery items only

If you are interested in sponsoring the event, or if you have any questions, please contact Anne at onereasonwhyTTV@gmail.com.

Sponsorships and individual tickets (priced at $25.00) can be purchased at the Ten Thousand Villages website and in-store.

Join us for gourmet bites, spirits and our one reason why.

JAKCISS: A day in the life of an artisan

Justin Chowdry

Justin is a supervisor in the villages of Halwan and Kotli Siddique located in Northeast Pakistan. His job differs from that of other village supervisors who look after the rug making needs of the artisans. Justin on the other hand concentrates totally on the social welfare of the artisans in the villages. Justin monitors the artisans’ health, interpersonal relationships, financial challenges, food supplies and family concerns such as sickness of a family member, a wedding or funeral of a family member.

While Justin supervises 120 villages, his normal day looks something like this. Starting at 9 AM, he makes calls to the village supervisors to learn of social issues that may exist in their villages. He then may travel 120 kilometers in a day visiting 10-15 villages where he sits down with an artisan to hear what issues are affecting the artisan’s family. Justin relates that the biggest problem artisan’s face is the rising costs of oil causing gas prices to be $4.00 /gallon and affecting all aspects of an artisan’s life. Justin serves as a mediator as artisans sometimes experience problems with interpersonal relationships. It is his job to listen carefully to the problem and then communicate this to the JAKCISS central office in Lahore, Pakistan. There, decisions are made which relieve the problem at hand, including one or more of the following: a raise in wage, an advance of salary for a wedding or funeral, time off given to care for a sick family member, or additional counseling for interpersonal problems. As Justin visits with artisans throughout the many villages, he hears about families in great need of work, visits with these families to hear their needs and skills and in this manner adds new artisans to JAKCISS thus helping more families. Employing Justin full time to solely address the social concerns of the artisan families, illustrates that JAKCISS is more than a job creation project. It is a project that involves advocacy, welfare and networking for the artisans to achieve the best quality of life possible.

When asked why he chooses to live in the village and work in this capacity having left a very lucrative job, Justin said, “There are many people who live for themselves. Living for others..not very many people do that.” He knows that living in the village affords a much higher quality of life for the artisans than in the city since it allows them to live in community where networking can happen to improve their lives. When we asked Justin, Who do you view as your community, he explained that “When people are poor it (community) extends beyond differences in religion.”

When asked what working for JAKCISS does for artisans, Justin said, “The character of JAKCISS is above all other companies in showing the artisans great respect. Wages are higher than any other company as well. Schools are supported and infrastructure built by JAKCISS in the villages. Perhaps most notable is that JAKCISS cares about the social well-being of artisans and helps them with their problems of daily living.