Haaretz Feature: The Hands that Wove the Shawl from Burma

The following is a translation from a feature published in the Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, on November 26th, 2006.

The original article is available at: www.haaretz.co.il

A non-profit organization established by two women from New York ensures that the income generated from the sales of goods from the developing world is received by those who produced them.

Catherine Shimony decided to act. There is growing protest against the unjust working conditions and low wages of workers in the developing world that yields high profits for large corporations. Yet, few people shift from protest to action. Shimony and her partner, Joan Shifrin, established an NGO that seeks to operate against the norms of the prevailing trend in marketing and commerce. Traditionally, the return to laborers for the manufacturer of jewelry, shoes, clothes and accessories is minimal. The economic reward that emerges from their work goes to the owners of local factories, the importers in rich countries, the wholesalers, chain stores and international corporations. But in this model, the financial returns go directly to community based organizations and the producers.

Shifrin and Shimony’s organization, “Global Goods Partners,” works to give back a large percentage of the income generated from the sale of goods to the workers themselves, and to community organizations that are promoting health and welfare in developing countries. The organization is based in New York and imports products from countries such as Afghanistan, South Africa, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

“In principle,” Shimony explains, “a third of the money goes to those who created and manufactured the goods. Another third goes to organizations that work in needy areas to improve living conditions in the worker’s communities. The last third is used to cover our expenses. Part of this money will be used to make grants to educational and health organizations that work in these countries. We work as volunteers. Our organization only has one paid employee, but our costs exceeds our revenue, and therefore we are dependant on donations from individuals and organizations.”

Ms. Shimony started her career in the aid field as Director of International Programs at American Jewish World Service, a Jewish organization that aids people living in impoverished areas around the world. This organization differs from other Jewish organizations that prefer to focus their activities in the United States or Israel.

After supervising 250 projects in over 40 countries in Asia, Africa, and the Americas, Ms. Shimony decided to embark on a new path. “The subject of trade was of great interest to me. I saw so many people who work in harsh conditions, earning close to nothing. Half of the world’s population lives on less than two dollars a day. More than three billion people exist on less than a dollar a day. It’s very worrying.”

What does Global Goods sell?

“Mainly jewelry and clothing items. Most of the goods are handmade; therefore the number of items sold is relatively small. We carry for example, bracelets from Argentina, which sell for two dollars each, or a box made from orange peel from Bolivia. Among the more expensive items is a shawl from Bolivia, which sells for $62 and a bag from Guatemala that sells for $65. The average price for an item is between $30 and $35.”

Ms. Shimony explains that the organization works with a number of groups, among them a group of women from Afghanistan. Under the Taliban regime, females were not allowed to study in school. In response, these women founded underground schools for girls. Today, these schools are operating out in the open. They provide education as well as employment in producing handbags and wallets. The income generated from sales of the products goes directly back to these women as well as to health, education, and leadership training for the women and their communities.

“In South Africa, for example, women with HIV and AIDS have difficulty finding jobs. They produce Nelson Mandela dolls for us—a very popular item—as well as stuffed animals.” According to Ms. Shimony, women who live in remote areas near the Argentine-Bolivian boarder manufacture bracelets from a plant similar to a cactus. “When I got there I was told I am the first foreigner that had visited the area. They also produce belts for us.” In Sri Lanka, women create jewelry and wine bags.

Shimony and Shifrin have far reaching goals. Beyond selling goods, they hope to use the merchandise to raise awareness of the challenges these communities face and promote change. “While we sell scarves that were knit by women from Burma, we try to raise awareness of the situation there,” says Ms. Shimony. “Currently we are looking into possible opportunities of selling baskets from Darfur in New York, and through this raise awareness of the genocide in Sudan.”

Shimony came to the meeting wearing a bracelet created by women from the Amazon Rainforest in Peru. The bracelet contains circular red seeds and elongated brown seeds, the price—$12 dollars per bracelet. “We are selling to schools within the U.S, or through other organizations. With each product, the buyer receives a card which contains information about the organization that created it.”

In regards to Israel, Ms. Shimony has plans as well. “Currently we are looking into working with a group of women that came to Israel from Ethiopia and live in Afula”, She adds. “We are also researching possibilities for working with Bedouin women.”

Shimony says that the products imported by her organization are primarily made by women. “We found that when women receive the funds from their sales, they allocate a larger portion of their income to the wellbeing of their families. Almost every one of these women has undergone a tragedy. Some of them have been forced into prostitution; others have been abandoned by their spouses; and some are infected with HIV. Each one of these women has a story of her own. The money that comes from our organization is important for their existence.

“When we approach these women, we do not look at their work only from the business perspective. In general, when a business considers a product, they check its cost and calculate the potential profit. We want to help people in need. We also want to educate the American consumer to think about where the products that they buy come from, and whether the producers in developing countries receive adequate pay for their work. We are just beginning. We are getting many positive responses, but without a doubt this is the beginning of a long process.”