Safe Trade

Some friends and I were talking at lunch on Sunday about great organizations that supported women who have come out of the sex slavery.

Just a quick look around the internet led me to some of these statistics.
Trafficking is estimated to be $32 billion industry, affecting 161 countries worldwide.http://www.polarisproject.org/


An estimated 12.3 million men, women and children are trafficked for commercial sex or forced labor around the world today.  Victims are trafficked both within and across international borders.http://www.polarisproject.org/


The US Department of Labor has identified 122 goods produced with forced labor, child labor, or both, in 58 countries.http://www.polarisproject.org/

"Trafficked" means that a person is either coerced, sold, or kidnapped and forced into labor for which, if they are paid, do not make enough money to escape. In addition, the psychological stress and physical repression often work to keep the person from escaping. This includes sex slavery.

If you would like to find out more about the global issue (Human trafficking happens in the US too... let's not be naive) I suggest looking at your country's government website and these two organizations: www.polarisproject.org
www.humantrafficking.org/


Many organizations exist to bring women and girls out of sex slavery and/or forced labor and give them a trade where they can earn a moderate living. I would like to share three of these organizations with you today.

Women At Risk (WAR) International
I discovered WAR when I was in college. It is an amazing organization that provides various opportunities for women (and I think some men) appropriate to their needs.
Their mission statement says "Women At Risk, International unites and educates women to create circles of protection and hope around women at risk through culturally sensitive, value-added intervention projects."


If you want to learn more about this organization, please go to their website! I want to share with you some of the things the women make. They make SO MANY things that I just want to show you a sample : )
                                   

I was actually so surprised going on their website and seeing all the things they now sell! AMAZING! I remember when it was just jewelry : ) Any of the things on their website would be awesome Christmas, birthday, anniversary, thank you, etc gifts.

byTavi
This organization gives women a secure job with an income that works as a preventative measure to sex work. They say that "When you purchase at item from byTavi you get much more than a great, fashionable product.  You are actually empowering the poor by providing a real market for their products.   byTavi is more than a fashion statement.  It is a statement about the value of every life."


             



People Tree
I recently became aware of this organization based out of the UK. They produce stylish, fair trade clothing. As I looked at the steps they go through on their website, everything is made BY HAND. EVERYTHING. They want to use as much human labor force as possible so all of their cloth is hand woven and hand dyed. Sometimes they add extra detail to a plain article just to put more man-hours into the project! So cool.
This is what they have to say about themselves "We like to think of it in terms of our little shoots-and-roots motif. We provide you withexclusive fashion - the shoots - while at the same time we work deep down through the roots, improving the lives and environment of the artisans and farmers in developing countries who work to produce it. It's Fair Trade throughout. Simple."


                  

And their prices are affordable!!! Even cheapo-make-it-yourself me would buy from them!


Update: A friend emailed me with another awesome organization!
International Princess Project
Their goal: International Princess Project advocates for women enslaved in prostitution, helping them restore their lives and empowering them to live free."

This organizatin makes Punjammies. Beautiful sleepwear made out of traditional material. 

         

Now, maybe you're thinking "why is she putting this on a crafting blog, bla, bla, bla... EVERYTHING YOU JUST SAW WAS MADE BY HAND! Some times it's better to not be crafty and support people who make things for their survival, not their hobby. 

Thanks for stopping by! Go out and support some women!

If you know of other great organizations please feel free to leave a comment with their info. Don't spam please : )