One World Projects

Return to Afghanistan

sales@oneworldprojects.com (One World Projects) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:59:00 +0000

Sometimes when you depart a country you have a feeling that you will return; Afghanistan was not one of them when I left my first visit a year and a half ago. It is a nation deeply troubled, immersed in war, torn apart by forces from without as well within, deeply divided by religious and tribal ideologies, and racked by poverty. It was for these reasons that I had doubts of ever setting foot on its soil again, and it is precisely for these reasons that we are returning.

On that first trip we found a country whose tourist industry was comprised solely of military forces and foreign nationals, and an export trade (other than opium) nearly non existent. Three decades of war have destroyed traditional income-generated opportunities and created a culture dependent on those who serve the war machine. Nor does it have the infrastructure in place to support the export of artisan crafts. In December of 2007 we placed our first orders with 6 different artisan groups. Although they were ready to ship in January, an exporting process whose details were little known to artisans and

authorities alike, corruption, and in one instance terrorism and death of the cargo specialists who were managing the shipment, delayed it until September.

Our first trip brought a ray of hope to artisans, a hope that their crafts could become the basis for sustainable income for themselves and their families. Westerners, and particularly the U.S., have acquired an image for starting programs of good work and then walking away before they can become self-sufficient and sustainable. One World Projects does not want to add fuel to this stereotype. Hence we are embarking on this second trip to Afghanistan for one week to reconfirm our commitment to our existing artisan suppliers and to develop relationships with new Afghan artisans.

In the second week of June we will take you with us to India to visit the slums of Chennai, where blind and handicapped women weave beautiful handbags from recycled plastic bottles, to Delhi where Tibetan refugee artisans produce brocade purses and yoga mat carriers, then onto Moradabad where Muslim families make works of art from recycled sheet metal, and finally to Dharamsala to visit Tibetan nuns.

Please come back to read our blog over the next 2 or 3 weeks; we hope that it will be an enjoyable and educational experience.

Something To Talk About: Green Mobile Phones and Accessories

sales@oneworldprojects.com (One World Projects) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:46:00 +0000

The International Herald Tribune reported an interesting trend at the Mobile Congress in Barcelona earlier this month: "green" cell phones made of recycled and biodegradable materials that require less energy than regular cell phones.

Until now, there have been few environmentally-friendly cell phone options available to consumers. This seems, however, to be quickly changing! Nokia, the Finland-based manufacturer that made one of every 3 cell phones sold last year, introduced "green" features on a number of its mobile products, including sensors that detect natural light to allow the phone to save energy, and chargers that beep when they are fully charged, cuing the owner to unplug them from the wall socket.

Motorola showed off its MOTO W233 Renew, which it touts as the first carbon-neutral phone. The W233 is made using plastic from recycled water bottles and can itself be recycled, arriving to customers in 100% recycled paper with a prepaid shipping envelope for customers to send in their old phones for recycling. Motorola also pays to offset the carbon emissions created to manufacture and distribute the phone, and to recycle it at the end of its life.

Sony Ericsson presented GreenHeart, a cell phone made of recycled, biodegradable components that was actually released in the U.S. late last year. GreenHeart's charger also uses less energy than other chargers when it's plugged into the wall. Both ZTE and Digicel, from China and Latin America respectively, offered low-cost solar-powered options that would make mobile communications possible for 2 billion people that don't have electricity.

If these new offerings are an indication of where the mobile industry is headed, we are clapping our hands in delight! One World Projects is also proud to offer "green" accessories to accompany your new mobile, including cell phone holders that are handmade from recycled Huipils (pronounced wee-peel), traditional blouses worn by Mayan women in Guatemala. Available in multiple sizes and colors, each holder comes with a handy button loop that can be attached to belt loops or key rings for easy access and has been handcrafted by an income-generation project that makes work for disadvantaged women in Guatemala. Please browse our selection of cell phone holders starting at $12.

Thanks for reading and for your support of sustainable and socially-responsible business. Our 11,000 artisan partners (and Mother Earth) thank you too!

Sincerely,

The Team at One World Projects

Afghan Teddy Bears Have Arrived!

sales@oneworldprojects.com (One World Projects) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:41:00 +0000

What a great start to the weekend...

For those of you who have been following our blog, our first teddy bear shipment has finally arrived from Afghanistan. These bears are a part of Teddies For Two, the share-a-bear program that allows customers to buy two handmade teddy bears for just $28 - one bear is shipped to you, the customer, while the second bear is donated to a child living in a refugee camp or orphanage in Afghanistan. In many cases, your donated bear may be the first toy this child ever receives! (Wholesale customers, please contact us for pricing).

The bears are handmade by the Children and Women Education Fund (CWEF), a Kabul-based NGO that provides basic education and vocational training in sewing and embroidery to women and teen girls from the lowest income districts of Kabul. Besides receiving an education and fair wages to support her family, she develops her creativity and grows in self-esteem, learning that in her hands she holds the key to a better future.

Each bear comes dressed in traditional Afghan vest and "pakol" hat with button joints for movable arms and legs. (Not appropriate for children under seven). Please click here to read about our holiday delivery of teddy bears to an orphanage in Kabul.

Thanks again for your support of Afghan women and children, and for helping make Teddies For Two a reality.

Have a great weekend!

The Team at One World Projects

Looking On The Green Side: U.S Stimulus Would Cut Climate Emissions

sales@oneworldprojects.com (One World Projects) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:13:00 +0000

A new Greenpeace report published this week reminds us that each cloud has a silver lining: Taxpayers' wallets will be hurting after the economic stimulus, but the proposed plan will cut carbon dioxide emissions by 13 million tonnes per year. That's the greenhouse-gas equivalent of turning off the electricity in 7.9 million U.S. homes or taking 13 million cars off the roads! "The fact that the federal government could spend so much money to slow global warming means we've really turned the page as a country," said Kert Davies of Greenpeace.

Please click below or paste this link into your browser to read the entire article: http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentnews/idUSTRE5146EI20090205?feedType=RSS&feedname=environmentNews

You can do your part to curb global warming by making little green changes in your daily routine. These could include (but aren't limited to) bringing your own shopping bag to the store, passing up the paper cup for a reusable travel mug, or by embracing earth-friendly fashions, such as recycled tire accessories from One World Projects. Not only are these hip handbags made of items that would otherwise go to waste, they're keeping roads and ravines clean by utilizing discarded car and truck tires.

Even the smallest green change makes a world of difference. On behalf of the World, thank you!

Teddy Bear Project in Afghanistan

sales@oneworldprojects.com (One World Projects) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:52:00 +0000

Happy New Year!

Last year, One World Projects began participating in a teddy bear distribution project in Afghanistan. For each teddy bear that we sell, another is donated to a child living in an orphanage or refugee camp in Afghanistan. Below is an update about our latest donation of bears, which were delivered this holiday season to four different Afghan orphanages by Wazhma Sadat, one of our Afghan artisan partners. What she found touched our heart, as we know it will touch yours.

When Wazhma gave teddy bears to some of the children, it was the first toy they had ever received! This is Shazia (photo on left) just after receiving her bear. Shazia's father was killed in a bomb blast two months before she was born and her mother remarried, abandoning Shazia and her two siblings as she couldn't afford to raise her first husband's children. Shazia now lives with an uncle (her father's brother) and spends most of her time at the orphanage. Her smile at receiving her first toy makes all our efforts in Afghanistan worthwhile.

The teddy bears are handmade by CWEF, a female artisan group in Afghanistan. Each is wearing a vest and matching "pakol," a traditional Afghanistan hat. If you would like to support this project, please e-mail us at sales@oneworldprojects.com and let us know how many you'd like to reserve. The next shipment of bears will be arriving in 2-3 weeks. They make a thoughtful gift for a friend, co-worker, or your own child, and we will donate a matching bear to a child in an orphanage or school in Afghanistan, who will quite possibly, like Shazia, be receiving his or her first toy ever. Price: $28.00 (For two bears, one for an Afghan child and one for you).

Thank you to all those who have been supporting this effort in Afghanistan!

Without you, we would not be putting smiles on these children's faces.

With gratitude,

The Team at One World Projects

Santa Claus Arrives at Lake Titicaca

sales@oneworldprojects.com (One World Projects) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 15:16:00 +0000

Dear Friends:

Aligned with our mission and to reflect the spirit of giving during the holiday season, One World Projects and Charity USA teamed up again this year to support the Believe and Dream Foundation in Bolivia with generous donations. The Foundation was started by one of our in-country coordinators, Mariel Mercado Ramos, and hosts a variety of charitable projects including donating school supplies to children who live in prison with their incarcerated parents, a project to transform discarded plastic bottles into economic opportunities for disadvantaged artisans, and an ambitious undertaking to save the llama industry in Bolivia by providing training an market opportunities for llama ranchers.

Each year at Christmas time, members of the Ramos family and some of their friends make a long pilgimage from their homes in La Paz to handout toys and bags of food to children of economically-disadvantaged families who have never experienced the joy of receiving gifts at Christmas. This year, over 2000 toys and bags of food will be distributed to children in communities from Tiquina to Copacabana; many of which can only be reached by boat.

The well known quote of St. Francis of Assisi comes to mind, "...for it is in giving that we

receive..." If you were to see the smiles on the children's faces and the joy in their hearts then you must ask yourself, "who is doing the giving and who is doing the receiving?" It is impossible to separate the giver from the receiver.

Thank you for your support throughout 2008. It is your purchase that makes it possible for us to support Foundations like Believe and Dream and thousands of artisans and their families. Together we can create a spirit of giving that changes lives around the world.

The entire Team at One World Projects would like to wish you a blessed holiday season and New Year filled with peace, love and prosperity.

One World Projects on the Today Show

sales@oneworldprojects.com (One World Projects) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:24:00 +0000

One World Projects pottery Ayacucho Peruvian piggy banks were mentioned on the Today Show on Monday, December 15th. The pottery piggy banks are baked in wood or gas-fired ovens to cure and are painted by hand. There are different styles and choose from and make a great holiday gift. Proceeds from the sales of these cute piggy banks help Peruvian artisans in small home-based workshops. To see these piggy banks go to: www.oneworldprojects.com.

Update on work in Afghanistan

sales@oneworldprojects.com (One World Projects) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 20:41:00 +0000

It's been almost a year since we've added an update on our work in Afghanistan. This post is not the easiest to share-yet needs to be shared. A few weeks ago we received some very sad news. The DHL manager we were working with on handling artisan exports was shot and killed along with the other foreigner working at DHL by one of the guards, after he killed them, he killed himself. The weekend before, a South African/British woman was killed while walking on the street in Kabul.The reality of the danger in Afghanistan for the workers who just want to help others or who are striving to improve their lives hit hard. It also made it even more important for us to share the Afghan artisan beautifully hand-made items including jewelry, rugs, shawls and rugs. We will continue our efforts in Afghanistan and keep you updated. Please pray for all those in Afghanistan who are working so hard to improve their lives.

World's Largest Coffee Break; Help Set a World Record May 10

sales@oneworldprojects.com (One World Projects) — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:29:00 +0000

This Saturday, May 10, is World Fair Trade Day. To celebrate, the Fair Trade Resource Network is organizing the World's Largest Fair Trade Coffee Break.

Participating in the World’s Largest Fair Trade Coffee Break is a great way to communicate the solidarity of the Fair Trade movement in the U.S. and celebrate those who produce the things that we buy.

At 3 pm Eastern/Noon Pacific on May 10, 2008, we take a break to enjoy a cup of Fair Trade coffee or other Fair Trade beverage. Anyone can participate, so long as you are serving/consuming Fair Trade beverages that are certified by TransFair USA or produced by a member of the Fair Trade Federation. Invite people to your home. Host an event at your church, synagogue, or mosque. Integrate The Break into your local Farmer’s Market.

Fair Trade Resource Network has compiled several resources, including a WFTD Toolkit and WFTD Action Guide and WFTD Media Kit to help you organize your own event. Click here for more information.

What's important is that you are counted!!

Email your final count of participants, whether its 5 or 500 people, to Sara Stender, FTTowns Coordinator at sara@fairtradetownsusa.org and send your photos, videos, and stories to wftday@fairtraderesource.org.

Help us set a new record that will serve as a benchmark for future years’ challenges!

Recycled Glass Bead Bracelets at Macy's

sales@oneworldprojects.com (One World Projects) — Tue, 06 May 2008 12:06:00 +0000

Did you know Macy’s, a large department store chain with stores in 45 of 50 U.S. states, debuted jewelry made with recycled glass beads from Ghana’s Cedi Beads and TK Beads for Earth Day April 22? The two designers shipped beads to One World Products in February and March. We then consolidated them with tagua seed beads from Ecuador and recycled glass beads from Ghana to make globally inspired, environmentally friendly jewelry. Cedi Beads and TK Beads have received training and technical assistance from the West Africa Trade Hub since 2005 and 2006 respectively, and both companies are now striving to increase exports to the U.S.

And of course, you can still visit us at One World Projects for other earth-friendly designs handmade by artisans around the world.

Thanks for your support!

The Team at One World Projects

Merry Christmas from the team at One World Projects!

sales@oneworldprojects.com (One World Projects) — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 06:09:00 +0000

We'd like to thank you for making the holidays brighter for artisans around the world with a holiday tree made from lanterns in Chaing Mai, Thailand, and inform you of our most recent holiday project...

With the help of our affiliate partner Charity Begins, we were able to hand-carry a donation of children's clothing and shoes to the Mae Tao Clinic, also known as Dr. Cynthia's, in Mae Sot, Thailand. (Mae Sot is a small Thai village on the Burmese border, and where the refugee women who weave our passport bags and scarves are also based.) The clinic provides free health care for refugees, migrant workers, and other individuals who cross the border from Burma to Thailand, and welcomes people of all ethnicities and religions. The picture below is of a boy (and his new shoes) who is staying at the clinic while his mother waits to deliver a new baby.

It was hard to pick just one group to give our donation to, as there are many worthy NGOs that operate in this area. We finally settled on Dr. Cynthia's because of the amazing amount of good it's done for the Burmese people, and for its non-discriminatory policy of helping any one in need, regardless of ethnicity, class or religion.

Please stay tuned for more reports of our work in this region and other parts of the world. Happy holidays and best wishes for 2008!

All the best,

The Team at One World Projects

Kabul Afghanistan - Final Day

sales@oneworldprojects.com (One World Projects) — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 06:53:00 +0000

Aid to Artisans has introduced us to more than a dozen different artisan organizations during on this trip. And while we haven’t had time to blog about each one, I did want to mention one particularly interesting organization called Turkman’s Women Actives Rights Association Afghnistan (TWARA). TWARA was established in 2005 with the idea of creating awareness among the Turkmen minority group living in the very remote areas of Afghanistan; mostly in the northern areas on the bank of the Amo River.

TWARA identifies Turkmen communities in which there is a very low literacy rate and a lack of awareness about the routine of daily activities. They work with the women to educate them in health-care, parenting, and life-style issues as well as promoting their skills in handicrafts, finding markets, and improving quality. Their primary craft is handmade carpets; both woven and felt.

The making of traditional Afghan carpets is very time-consuming but produces beautiful results, albeit with very hefty price tags. At TWARA, we found a unique alternative to the traditional Afghan carpet, one produced from felt, which is much more modestly priced. We have returned with a few of samples of quality felt rugs and we will see how our customers respond.

The key to Afghanistan’s future is in the hands of its own people. The Afghan people are strong, proud, and capable; possessing determination and resilience. But they need to be given the opportunity by the world community. The same community that has for decades brought only war, despair and destruction, now needs to contribute in positive ways and not by imposing their wills on the Afghan people through violence.

Yesterday I read an article on the BBC website(http://news.bbc.co.uk) that said a NATO spokesman apologized for the lives of innocent civilians lost because of mistakes made by NATO forces, and indicated that steps were being taken to reduce these mistakes. But in the same statement, the spokesman defended NATO’s record by saying that their forces had killed fewer people last year than the Taleban, who launched more than 100 suicide attacks. It is sad that we have become a world where human lives lost can be reduced to mere numbers and statistics and justified as either acceptable or unacceptable collateral damage.

Afghanistan’s people need economic opportunity so they can provide for their families. They need meaningful work, education, and gender equality so they can regain self-esteem and a renewed sense of purpose. These things should be basic human rights afforded to all. Most Afghans live in abject poverty, earning less than $1 a day. The Afghan police receive $4 a day to put themselves in harms way, and the Taleban pay young men $400 to $500 per month to fight. Viable economic opportunities are needed to create any opportunity of peace, lasting change, or a better life.

I leave this first trip to Afghanistan with two images that epitomize the worst and the best in this nation's struggle on the road to peace. For me, the most difficult image and the most vivid, was when our driver turned the corner onto a busy and dusty, two-lane dirt road. In the middle of the road, aligned in a single-line (to reduce the possibility of being run over) sat five women in burkas begging for money. Many of the women had disabilities and their burkas were covered with the dust and dirt thrown at them from the passing cars. I was told that begging in Kabul was a recently acquired phenomenon; that in the past women were too proud to engage in this activity. The image is a symbol of all the challenges that Afghanistan is struggling to overcome: poverty, oppression of women, casualty of war, and the loss of self-esteem and self-worth.

By contrast, perhaps our interpreter from Aid to Artisans epitomizes some of the best of Afghanistan. She is an intelligent and independent woman who was born in Afghanistan. When the Taleban came to power her family fled to Pakistan, and when the Taleban was overthrown, she returned to her homeland to live in the country that she so loves. She received a degree in computer engineering at the Kabul University, and has been accepted for a master’s degree program in Marketing at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania. She is passionate about learning and desires to find a way to use this knowledge to uplift Afghan women.

And while oppression of women is still common, particularly in the provinces, we met many shining examples of women that have educated themselves, become doctors, teachers, and community leaders.

From the point of view of artisans and artisans’ crafts there is much more diversity that we had expected. Most of the new lines that we will be acquiring are in high-quality jewelry made from gemstones like lapis, turquoise, fluorite, carnelian, amethysts, and quartz, embroidered textiles of handbags and clothing accessories, and felt rugs. We will also be working with NGOs like Turquoise Mountain to develop a line of ceramics and wooden carvings appropriate to the U.S. market.

I want to extend a heart-felt Thank You to Aid to Artisans for their work with artisans in Kabul; to help them with design, to understand issues surrounding quality-control, and to learn what is necessary to become export-ready.

For most of the artisans this will be their first experience of exporting to a foreign market and we feel privileged to be one of the first companies to work with Afghan artisans and further hope that through our relationships we can play a small role on the difficult road to peace.

I also want to Thank DAI and USAID for generously sponsoring this trip; without their financial contribution it would not have been possible.

Oxfam Fair Trade Clips

sales@oneworldprojects.com (One World Projects) — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 23:02:00 +0000

Kabul Afghanistan - Day 5

sales@oneworldprojects.com (One World Projects) — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 01:05:00 +0000

It is the third suicide bombing in Kabul this week and you can feel the tension in the air. Even our driver admitted last night that he was somewhat anxious to be driving around Kabul. Yesterday, a suicide bomber drove up next to a bus carrying Afghan soldiers and blew itself up, killing 6 soldiers, 7 civilians, and injuring dozens of others. One of the civilians killed was the cousin of Aid To Artisan’s driver who just happened to be in the wrong spot at the wrong time. Violence of this type is on the rise in Kabul and local people are worried about the prospects for the future in this capitol city.

We visited two NGOs working with women who have been afflicted by the war: Women for Women and The Children and Women Education Fund (CWEF).

Women for Women in Afghanistan is part of a larger international NGO; Women for Women International. Their mission is to provide women survivors of war, civil strife and other conflicts with the tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency.

Women for Women in Kabul provides business skills, vocational, and life-style training to thousands of Afghan women. They also provide loans to more than 4,000 women use the funds to establish their own micro-enterprises.

We asked the artisans to develop samples of several matching fluorite necklaces and bracelets in aqua marine, light blue, and purple.

The second NGO that we visited was the Children and Women Education Fund (CWEF), a Kabul-based non-government organization that provides education, vocational training, and instruction on women and children’s rights to more than 320 women.

We are working with this organization to create an Afghan teddy bear program in which a teddy bear will be given to an Afghan child for each that is purchased in the U.S.. Charity USA and One World Projects each placed orders for 300 bears--with an aditional 300 bears purchased and left behind to be donated to children. CWEF will also develop samples for an Afghan apron we hope to carry in the future.

Life in Kabul Afghanistan – Days 3 and 4

sales@oneworldprojects.com (One World Projects) — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 04:53:00 +0000

Winter is fast approaching in Kabul. When we arrived the mountains were bare, but now we awaken each morning to see a fresh blanket of snow rapidly making its way to the floor of the Kabul Valley. I’m told that the winter temperatures often drop to -20 F. With the high prices in gas and most Afghans living below the poverty line, it's a harsh existence. But while the weather may be cold, I find the Afghan people warm and friendly.

The markets are bustling with activity and fresh produce of cauliflower, carrots, pomegranates, and apples fill the humble stands of vendors.

Before we enter our hotel each night the car is searched for explosive devices by armed guards with automatic weapons. We pass through three sets of fortified-steel gates, and then we must have our bags searched and pass through metal detectors. We can’t even walk to the end of a block without being escorted by our driver. And while our movements are restricted, there isn’t an overwhelming fear of being kidnapped, assassinated, or blown-up. That being said, 22 people were injured today as another suicide bomber tried to blow-up a military convoy in Kabul on the road to the airport.

Tim and I have taken on the traditional black and white scarf and wool hat (traditional dress of the Pinshar men who reside in the Mountains of Northern Afghanistan) in an effort to blend in with the locals. Now, unless you hear us speak you would hardly know that we were foreigners.

The dominant architecture in Kabul is Early 21st Century War; as the remains of buildings bombed by the campaign to oust the Taliban litter the landscape.

The last few visits have been some of the most productive and encouraging.

Today we spent most of the afternoon at Madina Handcrafts designing jewelry made from recycled glass, fluorite, lapis, carnelian, quarts, turquoise, and other precious stones. Medina’s mission is to empower vulnerable and disabled women through building their professional skills, providing literacy, health training and capacity building to help themselves and their families to reach self-sustainability.

There are 21 women at the workshop in Kabul, many who are disabled, and another 200 in the provinces. The women, cut, shape, sand, polish and assemble the stones into jewelry. The workshop is hosted in the modest home of Shaima Shafaq who embodies the spirit and voice of Medina Handcrafts. Women come, many with children, and enjoy the solidarity and fellowship of one another while they work to provide for their families.

Just a few of the many wonderful new pieces of jewelry that we will be adding to the One World Project line of Afghan products.

I think this group is an excellent candidate for the Bridges to Peace Workshop 2008.

Kabul Afghanistan - Day 1 and 2

sales@oneworldprojects.com (One World Projects) — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 03:03:00 +0000

I’m writing after our second day in Kabul. To my surprise, we have found much more depth and diversity in the hand crafts being produced by artisans in Afghanistan then we had imagined; cotton and wool textiles (both embroidered and woven), jewelry made of recycled glass and stone, ceramics and wooden carvings. Most artisan crafts are made in the northern and western regions of the country, either in Afghan refugee camps inside Pakistan or outside of Kabul; little is available from the south and east near the border with Pakistan, a violent area still dominated by the insurgency and the Taliban. As I write this, I hear the morning call to prayer outside our window. It must be 5:00 am.

Not surprising, there are so many stories to tell. Every group we visit, and each artisan we talk to, is another example of the strength of the human spirit to rise above adversity. This country and its people have been deeply wounded by war; it is evident in the way that people talk and you can see it in their eyes. Nobody has been left untouched. As we drive through Kabul, we see building after building destroyed by bombs, the overwhelming presence of Afghan military and police, and the occasional presence of U.N. forces.

There is a feeling that security in Kabul has deteriorated over the past year, as the Taliban is beginning to resurge. One workshop organizer told us that while life under the Taliban was oppressive, there was less violence and fear of being blown-up by a suicide bomber or I.E.D. Now she can’t make the 1-day drive between Kabul and Jalabad without wondering if it will be her last. If you see an approaching convoy of tanks or other armored vehicles (usually U.S. military), you must quickly pull off the road and risk being blown up by an I.E.D. or fired upon by the military without any warning or provocation. Afghanistan and Iraq are now the mostly highly mined countries in the world.

Yesterday, we visited two groups:

Women of Hope was started by an American woman, Betsy Beamon, who once worked for U.S. Air Lines. After Sept. 11, she felt compelled to move to Afghanistan to assist in the plight of Afghan women, and arrived without any training, experience or a plan. In just five years, she's been able to create a Vocational Center that teaches more than 70 Afghan women to create crafts, and craft a future. In response to these women expressing a desire to educate themselves and their family, Women of Hope opened a school in Afghanistan that's grown to teach 200 children (130 boys and 70 girls).

There is also a refugee camp near Kabul called Ben-e-Wasak, a tent city in the middle of nowhere, that's home to more than 300 families. There are no stores or services, so the men have to commute 1-1/2 hours each day to Kabul looking for work. The Afghan government plans to move 42,000 refugee families into this area and to provide them with permanent land. When this happens, Women for Hope will distribute start-up kits to any resident who commits to start a business that will benefit the local community. Each kit will cost $500, and include the supplies a new store owner will need to set up shop. The goal is to fund a couple of grocery stores, as well as a propane shop, a bakery, tailor, textile shop, and a tool and building supply store. Ten percent, or $50, of the store owner’s earnings will be reinvested in setting up the next shop. This is how the community will grow and become sustainable. One World Projects will purchase one or more of these startup kits in the spring.

The second group, Zardozi, works with more than 2,500 female artisans living in Afghanistan and the refugee camps in Pakistan. (There are an estimated 1.5 million widows in Afghanistan, 70,000 in Kabul alone.) Zardozi is the most established handicraft project in Afghanistan and has been helping Afghan artisans to find markets for their handicrafts for more than 20 years. Their products include high-quality embroidered bags and gift items.

Today we are off to visit three more artisan groups: Turquoise Mountain, Nasima Silk, and Khaber Khosh Shop. Please stay tuned for the next report. Thank you for following and for your support.

All the best, Phil

A Time For Reflection…..

sales@oneworldprojects.com (One World Projects) — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 15:44:00 +0000

…..not on the past but on the future. As I begin this journey to Kabul, Afghanistan, I am aware that it isn’t without a certain element of risk.

There is an ongoing war here, and Westerners (particularly Americans) are not welcomed and often targets of violence. In recent weeks, many people, including members of the OWP Team, have questioned the wisdom of this trip, and asked, “Why are you doing this?”

To those who ask the question, I remind them that Uniting the World Through Compassionate Trade is our tag line, and our mission is:

● to provide viable economic alternatives to those who are the most disadvantaged

● to promote conservation and sustainable use of our world’s natural resources

● and to promote Peace in areas of the world ravaged by war and violence

We want to expand the principles of Fair Trade to that of Compassionate Trade by addressing some of the most pressing global problems of our age: poverty, hunger, lack of education and health-care, environmental degradation, the rights of women and children and global violence.

At One World Projects, we know that any worthwhile change does not come without sincere effort and sacrifice. As I write to you from Dubai, I also reflect that India, home of Ghandi and Buddha, two souls that I respect and admire and who did much to promote peaceful coexistence among all peoples, regardless of religion, race or status, is just a two hour flight across the Arabian Sea.

Few fair trade importers work in Afghanistan, for obvious reasons. We have come here because its people have suffered so much by decades of war and violence, and need our help. The average income of most Afghans is less than $1 a day. Men with few options available to them are often persuaded to fight in order to make a living, leaving the women to bear the financial burden of raising children alone.

Now the country seeks a new path towards peace and prosperity, although the road ahead is still long and difficult. We can sit back and hope others chart a course that leads to sustainable peace, or we can help shape its positive new direction.

In addition to adding Afghani products add to our extensive line of fair-trade crafts, and building relationships with new artisans, we will spend the week looking for artisan groups to participate in our Bridges to Peace 2008 workshop. This workshop will bring artisans from conflict and post-conflict together with buyers from well-known companies in the U.S. to produce new products for the consumer market. The workshop will be hosted in the Ecuadorian Amazon and include artisan groups from Afghanistan, Burma and Colombia.

We have hosted similar events twice before, but this will be the first time that the workshop has specifically focused on a theme of peace. In addition, we hope to produce a made-for-television documentary to chronicle the artisans and their crafts, and explore the principles of fair-trade and how economic opportunists can help build bridges to peace.

Andean Amazon Accents Show — Bolivia, 2007

sales@oneworldprojects.com (One World Projects) — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 17:06:00 +0000

I’ve just returned from 5 days in Bolivia, a country of amazing diversity, in both its landscape and people. The Andes and the Altiplano to the West give this country the highest average altitude in South America, while the tropical Amazon Rainforest hugs the country on the north and the east, above its central lowlands of rolling hills, forests, and savannah. And Bolivia's people are comprised of three dozen Amerindian groups, including the Aymara, Quechua, Guarani, and Ayoreo, which creates the ideal setting for a wide selection of unique handicrafts.

This is my 4th trip to Bolivia, and somehow it wouldn’t feel complete without the blockades that attempt to bring its transportation, business, government, and any semblance of normal life to a halt. (It is through these disruptions that the people express their disapproval of government policies.) This time, Bolivians were passively protesting government decisions that have led to an increase in the cost of goods and gas prices, combined with a skyrocketing cost of living that has forced millions of Bolivians to leave the country in search of better-paying jobs.

I spent the first few days in La Paz visiting with our artisans and exploring new groups. This year’s Andean Amazon Accent Show, which started one day late because road blockades prevented taxis, buses, and cars from getting to the fair grounds, led to a disappointing turn-out: approximately 200 exhibitors and just eight buyers. Despite this, we found a number of interesting new products, as well as new projects that will benefit inmates and disadvantaged children.

Keep an eye out for new items from Bolivia at One World Projects!

All the best,

Phil Smith, CEO & Founder
One World Projects
Phil@oneworldprojects.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

sales@oneworldprojects.com (One World Projects) — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 18:41:00 +0000

We have a lot to be thankful for this year, and that includes you! Thanks so much for your support this holiday and all year long by helping us help disadvantaged artisans around the world.

We couldn't do it without you!

From,

The Team at One World Projects

Free Rice Game

sales@oneworldprojects.com (One World Projects) — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 09:39:00 +0000

Here's a "good" game for you. A new U.N. campaign donates 10 grains of rice for each question you answer correctly at http://www.freerice.com. It's already generated enough rice to feed 50,000 people.

FreeRice offers players multiple-choice definitions of a word, and each correct answer generates 10 grains of rice for the United Nations Worldl Food Program. The game relies on advertising revenue to underwrite its rice campaign.

On October 7, the day it was launched, just 830 grains of rice were donated. But by November 8, more than 77 million grains were donated, the equivalent to more than 7 million correct answers!

Click here to read more!

sales@oneworldprojects.com (One World Projects) — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 16:22:00 +0000

Hi readers,

We haven’t heard anything about the protests in Burma/Myanmar since late September, which probed us to do a little research. You’ll notice our new Campaign for Burma banner on the left. Please click there, for the latest news from this troubled region and to find out how you can help, or read on. Also, we’ve posted a YouTube video of the monks’ march and its brutal finale. It’s a long video (around 10 minutes) but worth the watch.

A bit about Campaign for Burma:

The United States Campaign for Burma is a U.S.-based membership organization dedicated to empowering grassroots activists around the world to bring about an end to the military dictatorship in Burma. Through public education, leadership development initiatives, conferences, and advocacy campaigns at local, national and international levels, USCB works to empower Americans and Burmese dissidents-in-exile to promote freedom, democracy, and human rights in Burma and raise awareness about the egregious human rights violations committed by Burma's military regime.

Recent Burmese News (November 6, 2007)

Myanmar summons foreign diplomats to meet with UN envoy
(IHT)
UN rights chief given Burma date
(BBC)
Burma invites UN special rapporteur back
(The Nation)
UN rights official to visit Myanmar as envoy pushes for reform
(AFP)
UN in Myanmar: a history of failed efforts
(IHT)
Little joy for U.N. envoy in Myanmar
(Reuters)
Myanmar tycoon says sanctions will not hurt regime
(Reuters)
Myanmar Tycoon Attacks Sanctions
(AD)
UN human rights envoy, barred since 2003, set for Myanmar visit next week
(IHT)
UN rights expert to visit Myanmar next week
(UN News)
Suu Kyi Unwell—Gambari Meeting Uncertain
(The Irrawaddy)

Check us out in Travel + Leisure

sales@oneworldprojects.com (One World Projects) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:07:00 +0000

Or, rather, check out our Kenyan Beaded Bowls & Boxes from the talented Samburu tribe in Northern Kenya.

The article, called Women At Work, details one journalist's trip to four women's collectives, one of which is a visit to the Samburu at the Ol Malo Lodge in North Kenya. The article doesn't specifically mention One World Projects, but by showcasing our non-profit partner, we believe it's doing good by increasing awareness of a worthy project.

Get your copy today!

Earthquake Assessment:PERU

sales@oneworldprojects.com (One World Projects) — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 16:30:00 +0000

One World Projects’ CEO and founder Phil Smith just returned from Chincha and Pisco, Peru, two of the cities hit hardest by the August 15 earthquake. He was there to assess the damage done to our artisans and workshops, and find the best ways to help the 100,000 people left homeless in the region.

Phil reports that both cities look like a war zones, and the most notable landmarks in each are straw mats have been folded together to create faux huts. In Chincha, Smith booked the last hotel room in town, literally. “One-third of the buildings were standing, one-third were marked with a large X, meaning they were condemned, and one-third were destroyed.” All that is left of Pisco’s central cathedral is four walls amidst of a pile of rubble, a horrific reminder of the nearly 300 people who were buried while attending mass on that fateful Sunday evening.

There are several relief organizations working on the ground, such as Mercy Corps, Oxfam America and CARE. One World Projects has chosen to work with a local group called Manos Amigas (hands joined in friendship), a nonprofit organization that works with individual workshops, groups and associations in Lima and in the Andean highlands to provide training in accounting, business administration, costing, and design, as well as the packaging and shipping of the products. Our donation will help earthquake victims in Huancavelica, one of the poorest villages in Peru, and one that sits a bit further from the coast, and the center of the relief efforts.

Says Smith, “It will be a long time before these people are able to rebuild, and they can’t afford to do it alone.” You can help, either by making a direct donation to one of the organizations listed below, or by shopping for Peruvian products at One World Projects.

Please click below to make a direct donation to one of the relief organizations working on the ground in Peru:

Mercy Corps

Oxfam America

CARE

Best regards,

The Team at One World Projects
info@oneworldprojects.com

A Report from the Field: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

sales@oneworldprojects.com (One World Projects) — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 18:16:00 +0000

Liz Wald, founder of our partner company Economic Development Imports, will be writing from Bishkek Kyrgyzstan for the next week, where she's giving a workshop to potential exporters on how to work with the U.S. market. The workshop is sponsored by the Central Eurasian Leadership Academy (CELA) and brings together artisans from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. (Kyrgyzstan is west of China, North of India and Northeast of Afghanistan, just in case you weren't sure!)

This region is known for anything and everything felt and embroidered - from hats to clothes to change purses.

Liz, who is responsible for many of the African products sold on our site, commented that Central Asia is similar to Africa in the sense that every country is landlocked and has its own export laws. She also notes that the people are very proud and do not like discuss their troubles. "This issue arose when I asked about the ‘stories” behind the products or workshops, i.e., do they support women in some way or help the sick or needy or anything along these lines. Their response was “is this important?” Even getting them to elaborate on the history of a product or the design tradition is proving difficult. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that marketing is not a strong suit of former Soviet Republics.”

We don't know if we'll carry product from this region or not, but we wanted to inform you of Liz's trip, as One World Projects and its partners often travel in search of new artisan groups who share our vision: to help artisans in some of the world's poorest countries improve their lives and communities through fair trade, and in an environmentally- and socially-responsible manner.

Check out Liz's blog for a full report!

Samburu Feature in PLANET Magazine

sales@oneworldprojects.com (One World Projects) — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 19:57:00 +0000

Issue seventeen of Planet magazine features a lovely photo article of the Samburu tribe from Kenya. This is the same tribe that creates our Kenyan beaded bowls and boxes. The sales from these products are reinvested back into community to help fund medical clinics, schools and art centers for one of our planet's last indigenous tribes.