Middle East
Egypt
Fair Trade Egypt
Fair Trade Egypt, based in Cairo, Egypt, serves 40 producer organizations that incorporate some 2,700 artisans. The goals of Fair Trade Egypt include providing income to marginalized Egyptian artisans through marketing and sales of their products; and helping to preserve Egypt’s infinite cultural richness and craft heritage. Fair Trade Egypt creates employment in marginalized communities, works for greater equity in employment conditions between men and women, encourages children’s education by eliminating the need for them to work and provides greater access to services in health and education. The organization also seeks to have only a positive impact on the environment, and to preserve traditional craft techniques in Egypt. The organization gives high priority to safe and healthy working conditions, as a principle tenet of fair trade.
© Ten Thousand Villages
MCC Egypt
Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is a relief, development and peace agency of the North American Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches, with programs in more than 50 countries. MCC Egypt works with a number of Egyptian groups to export handicrafts for Ten Thousand Villages. MCC Egypt assists with contacts and logistics with Egyptian producer groups.
© Ten Thousand Villages
West Bank
Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans
Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans is a not-for-profit Palestinian NGO created in 2009 by local community members that works with the Bethlehem handicraft community. They are committed to fair trade principles with a desire to bring fair prices and working conditions to every handicraft producer in the West Bank and Bethlehem area. They are working towards the formation of an Arab Fair Trade Forum and work closely with many other fair trade organizations locally and abroad with the common goal of bringing fair trade to Palestine.
© Global Crafts
Gloria Investment, Ltd
The family and neighbors of Issa Mosleh comprise the artisans of Gloria Investment, Ltd. Located in Beit Sahour, a village on the east side of Bethlehem, Gloria Investment, Ltd produces beautifully carved olive wood items. In an area with few employment opportunities, the sale of olive wood creations provides much-needed income to talented artisans. Issa Mosleh also hopes to guarantee the continuity of this valuable traditional handicraft through these difficult times. Jiries Mosleh, Issa Mosleh’s father, began working with mother-of-pearl to create exquisite handicrafts in 1964. He began to carve olive wood ornaments, pendants and brooches in 1970, and today the olive wood handicraft tradition continues under his son’s supervision. The workshop moved from rented space to its own property in 1975.
© Ten Thousand Villages
Hebron Glass
Named for its location, Hebron Glass is located in the historic West Bank city of Hebron, well-known for its traditional glass-blowing. Hebron Glass operates three main workshops in Hebron, in addition to artisans who work in their own homes. Some 60 artisans, women and men, work with Hebron Glass, earning excellent income and benefiting from safe working environments.
Established in 1890, Hebron Glass is a family business that has expanded over the years and is now exporting traditional glassware and ceramics products. One of the aims of the group is to build lasting relationships with fair trade associations. Hebron Glass aims to keep their artisans busy throughout the year, despite the challenges of occupation and war, and the competition from China. All tabletop items created by Hebron Glass are lead-free and safe to use.
© Ten Thousand Villages
Holy Land Handicraft Cooperative Society
The Holy Land Handicraft Cooperative Society represents Palestinian artisans working in the occupied territories on the West Bank of the Jordan River. The Holy Land Cooperative was founded in 1981 by olive wood and mother-of-pearl artisans as a response to the deteriorating Palestinian handcrafts industry and to preserve the centuries-old craft and design traditions of the area. Focusing on opening international markets to counter the decline of local sales, the work of the Holy Land Cooperative alleviates poverty, increases employment, and strengthens the local community while preserving Palestinian handicraft traditions. The 36 members of the cooperative and additional 50 non-member workshops who work with the cooperative are located in the cities of Beit Sahour, Beit Jala, and Bethlehem. The tradition of olive wood and mother-of-pearl carving has deep roots in the Bethlehem region. For generations, artisans have made carvings for Christian pilgrims visiting holy sites in the West Bank and Israel and the area is dotted with family workshops. The separation wall between Israel and the West Bank has taken a toll on artisans, due to the restrictions on the movement of people and goods and the sharp decline in tourism.
© SERRV
Sindyanna of Galilee
Sindyanna of Galilee was established as a nonprofit organization in 1996 to work with the Arab population in western Galilee. Founded and managed by women, Sindyanna's uniqueness is that it works in partnership with Israelis and Palestinians, and that it combines commercial activity and community work. One of Sindyanna's primary activities is to restore and develop the Arab olive industry in Israel and secure a fair return for Arab farmers. The income from the cultivation of olives has been a mainstay in western Galilee for centuries, but Arab farmers in Israel face many obstacles which make accessing markets and other resources they need difficult. With Sindyanna, Arab farmers are able to sell their crop under fair conditions. The other goal of Sindyanna is to provide work for women, where work opportunities are scarce. At their warehouse, both Jewish and Arab women are in charge of labeling, packaging, and preparing products for shipping. It is the only facility in the area that employs women. Sindyanna's cold-pressed organic olive oil and their traditional olive oil soap have both been best sellers for us.
© SERRV