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January
2004
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CHANGE THE WORLD …FROM YOUR
LIVING ROOM
RISING International |
Poverty has a woman's face! 1.3 billion people survive on less
than a dollar per day and 70% of these people are women; hunger
and illiteracy are two of the most devastating results of worldwide
poverty. Studies by the United Nations Development
Program1 suggest that when women are empowered
and able to earn an income, they buy food and educate their
children.
RISING International, a "Fair Trade"2
organization based in Santa Cruz, California, focuses on just
that - - enabling women in developing countries to earn an income
by selling handcrafted items without incurring the costs of
"traditional trade intermediaries" who can often be exploitive.
The women are paid a fair or "living wage" for their work which
enables them to provide food, clothing, education and medical
supplies for their families.
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| A traditional
Afghan Kuchi tribal necklace available through RISING
International |
To sell these products in the U.S., RISING International takes
advantage of a unique business model called "direct selling"
that has proven extremely successful for companies such as Tupperware
(with $1.1 billion in annual sales), Mary Kay Cosmetics ($1.6
billion in annual sales) and Avon ($6 billion dollars per year).
In similar fashion, a network of people who share RISING International's
goals host "home parties" at which they sell the native crafts
of impoverished women: from baskets made by women in Uganda
who have lost children to AIDS to embroidered shawls and wall
hangings made by women in India.
By combining the direct selling business model, a commitment
to ameliorate poverty and hunger throughout the world and the
shared entrepreneurial spirit of people who share their vision
and goals, RISING International hopes to have an important impact
in alleviating hunger and illiteracy throughout the world.
Jagriti International has partnered with RISING International
at a number of our events, and so far we have sold more than
$8,000 worth of crafts produced by women in Afghanistan, India,
Nepal and Pakistan and at the same time, raised money for our
Jagriti programs.
For further information about RISING International, or to host
or attend a Fair Trade home party, you can contact the founder,
Carmel Jud at:
RISING International
930 Mystery Spot Rd.
Santa Cruz, CA 95065
info@risinginternational.org
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References:
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1. United Nations
Development Program, Human Development Report, 1995-1999. Quoted
from the book, "In Her Hands - Craftswomen Changing The World."
By Paola Gianturco and Toby Tuttle.
2. ( A "Fair Trade" organization is
an equitable and fair partnership between marketers in North
America and producers in other parts of the world; the goal
of the partnership is to provide low-income artisans and farmers
with a living wage for their work.) For more information www.fairtradefederation.com
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