Women Producers and Fair Trade

1. Women Producers and Fair Trade

2. Key elements of fair trade ….. • creating opportunities for poor producers • fair trading practices – payment and prices • ensuring that children are not being exploited • being sure there is no discrimination • being sure working conditions are safe

4. Women and development • Rural women responsible for ½ the world’s food production • 70% of those living in poverty are women • 66% of those who are illiterate are women

5. Why focus on women? • Women are often discriminated against • Investing in women’s training and employment is key to fighting poverty • Working with women can bring greater benefit to families • Many women are involved in craft production

6. Indian Women in Rajasthan, Western India Discrimination a big problem: • Child marriages common • Healthcare restricted by husbands’ families • Violence against women and girls • Girls less educated GKK is in Rajasthan

7. Geeta Khala Kendra • Privately-run company • Owned and run by a woman • Up to 200 women workers • Produce embroidery based on traditional skills • Work from their own homes

8. Jodhpur ……

9. Geeta Khala Kendra • Women travel to GKK for raw materials • Record kept of production • Meeting together provides support

10. Geeta Khala Kendra • Process managed by women • Tailoring, based in family workshops, is a male enterprise • But at GKK the women are making the decisions!

11. Geeta Khala Kendra Families benefit from women’s income: • Investing in small shops • Sending daughters to school

12. Embroiderers looking at the catalogue…….

13. Benefits • Security • Training • Payment into their own bank accounts

14. Developmental impact • Personal development • Money to spend on home and family • Changing attitudes ……….but not a revolution!

15. Women in Bangladesh

16. Women in Bangladesh • Often marry young • Move to mother- in-law’s compound • Often expected to stay home-based • Lower literacy – especially older women • Few job options

17. Women in Bangladesh Women value work in or near their home.The income often gives them increased status in society.

18. Based in a small town in northern Bangladesh, remote from the capital Saidpur Enterprises

19. Saidpur Enterprises • Consists of two units: Action Bag Handicrafts & Eastern Screen Printers • Both focus on helping poor women e.g. widows, divorcees, heads of households

20. Work allocation at Action Bag

21. Rabia’s story

22. Nazma’s Story

23. Saidpur Enterprises - benefits • Increased status as a result of own income • Women able to cover cost of living • Money for a few “luxuries” • ….. but many still struggle with poverty at times

24. Minka, Peru

25. Juliaca Artisans Association - Minka, Peru • 16 artisan groups in Juliaca area • They work together and export products through Minka • 95% of the members are women

26. Juliaca – life in the community • Relies on agriculture, hand-knitting alpaca and trading • Hard area - extremes of temperature • Minka orders only 4 months of the year

27. Income through alpaca • Extremely important to the community • Women must care for their families, animals and earn money • Hand-knitting alpaca only work available

28. Income through alpaca • Each day women do household chores and spin and knit • On Sunday they take products to fair in Juliaca • Buy food and alpaca fibre for the coming week

29. Income through alpaca • End up selling very cheaply • Struggle to survive

30. Working with Minka… • Minka works with groups across Peru • Provides pre-financing and a range of other support • Pays a better, guaranteed price When Minka orders arrive the women’s lives are transformed. They start working as a group - “They are not passive and distrustful people any more”.

31. Fair trade benefits…. • They can improve their living conditions a little • Minka supports their community projects

32. Fair trade benefits women and communities all over the world

33. A final word: from Rabia in Bangladesh After one year working at Action Bag: “I now have hope for the future of my child.”