a nonprofit organizat ion wit h a mi s s i o n t o er ad icat e pover t y wherever i t res i d es
Top left: Serrv staff Sarah Wilcox with weavers and the head of our partner Tintsaba in Swaziland Top right: A Tintsaba basket weaver shows us her handiwork
Q U A RT ERLY NEW SLET T ER SU M M ER 2017
INSIDE: >Our global travels in 2017 >Highlights so far this year >An inspiring mother in Bangladesh >Meet our new CEO
Fair Trade at the Southern Tip of Africa By Serena Sato, Sales & Marketing Director
“Perfect! You can join us for field visits,” replied Richard Freemantle, head of our partner Tintsaba, as we planned our time in Swaziland. Intrigued, we readily agreed and welcomed the opportunity to meet several women who weave their intricate baskets. Early one morning in March, Sarah Wilcox and I piled into Richard’s car and bounced our way around what we decided was most of northern Swaziland. Swaziland is only 120 miles long by 80 miles wide! (It turned out that the term “field visits” was quite literal. We would pull over to predetermined meeting places either along the road or under a nearby tree!) We followed the route of other Tintsaba staff who were busily paying artisans for their baskets, dropping off sisal supplies and orders, answering questions, and checking in. A mobile health clinic was also part of the caravan—offering the women private, free access to basic health care. It was a great experience for us to see these relationships and benefits. In Swaziland, official estimates are that 26% of adults have HIV and most of them also have untreatable tuberculosis, and more than 20% of children are orphans due to disease and poverty. Basket weaving offers women the rare and vital opportunity to earn cash income that they most often use for their children’s school fees. Sales of their baskets also enables them to care for their children or grandchildren while they work. They are paid fairly, offered paid maternity leave, and given classes ranging from household budgeting to nutrition. More than 700 women weave baskets for Tintsaba using a unique skill that has been traced back 400 years. We are proud to carry their baskets in the US and to be one of their largest customers.
a offers samples of our spices and es at the 2015 Annual Conference. : Fair Trade Federation
Sarah and I also visited Serrv partner Turqle Trading in South Africa, and met many of the farmers and workers who make their delicious food items. We saw chilli farms, salt flats, and several facilities where the ingredients are processed into their finished food items at the highest global standards of food safety and quality. A highlight was our visit to Workshops Unlimited, an organization providing life and skills training for people with physical and cognitive disabilities. One of their sources of income and education is to create the beaded tassels and wire caps for Turqle Trading’s products.
South Africa has made tremendous strides since the time of apartheid, but unemployment is rampant at 36-48%, depending on who you ask. In addition, more than 40% of the population is under the age of 24 and half of them are unemployed. For these reasons, Turqle Trading focuses on providing in-country employment and invests in education by giving 2.5% of every sale to an education trust to help all of their workers’ children attend good schools. In 2016, Serrv donated to this trust to build education opportunities for South Africans. Right: An employee of Workshops Unlimited
Where We’ve Been: Serrv Staff Cross the Globe in 2017 Serrv staff have been to Egypt, Peru, India, Nepal, Indonesia, South Africa, and Swaziland already this year! Stay tuned for more details in our Fall 2017 issue. Legend: Serrv Partners 2017 Visits
You can help marginalized artisans and farmers thrive. Your tax-deductible donations* enable us to invest more in expanding the benefits of fair trade. We carefully use our funds to make the most impact each year. We support our 55 partners with market access, education initiatives, recovery from disasters, and more. Donate online at serrv.org/donate or call 1.800.423.0071. *Serrv is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Visit serrv.org/donate for financial and regulation information.
Andira, Get Paper Cooperative, Nepal
Serrv Connects
Creating Opportunity for Women
Partnership and collaboration are essential elements of our core values, and each year we strive to deepen our connections with our partners and the greater fair trade community through in-person visits. Here are a few of the places we’ve been and who we’ve met this year in the U.S. The Fair Trade Federation held their annual conference in Louisville this past March. Three Serrv staff were in attendance and former CEO Bob Chase gave a plenary address which received a standing ovation. Agung, a passionate advocate for fair trade, shows off his fair trade tattoo.
Morsheda Akhter has woven beautiful baskets with our partner Dhaka Handicrafts for more than 12 years. Before becoming a weaver, she and her husband earned a steady living as small-scale farmers in their village of Hapunia, Bangladesh. When a nearby river rose and flooded their home and property, they suddenly found themselves without a reliable source of income. Luckily, Morsheda secured work with Dhaka Handicrafts and her husband found seasonal employment in agricultural labor.
Kathy Harley and Sarah Gscheidle of our Customer Care team met Mercy Zaah from Ghana on her visit to the U.S. in March. Mercy is a farmer in the Kuapa Kokoo cooperative that provides Divine Chocolate with their cocoa. Serrv first introduced Divine to the US in 1999. Two leaders from our valuable partner Asha Handicrafts in Mumbai, India visited our Maryland facility in April to share updates and discuss product packaging and shipping. Our Wisconsin office hosted the director of our partner Sasha Handicrafts, based in Calcutta, India. We held events with her at three nearby stores including our own in Madison in May.
“I appreciate what Dhaka Handicrafts has done for my mother. They trained her and helped her earn a good amount of money each month. It is gratifying to realize that Dhaka Handicrafts helps many destitute and extremely poor people secure a standard of living. Many girls like me are able to find their hope of life realized and open doors to self-reliance.”
–Afroza Akhter, college student
Over the years Morsheda has been able to save income through Dhaka Handicraft’s artisan savings program. The family purchased a small piece of land and built a new hut with their initial savings. More recently, Morsheda dedicated her income towards sending her children to school, including her daughter Afroza. Afroza is currently studying at Sherpur Degree College and hopes to join the Bangladesh Army after she completes her studies. Her success inspires other young girls in their rural community to go to school.
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Hello Serrv family! As Serrv’s new CEO, I’m excited to be part of our vibrant team here…and I’ve come at a good time. Retiring after 27 years, Serrv’s former CEO, Bob Chase, left behind a committed staff, a tradition of customer satisfaction, and long-term relationships with our producers. We’ll continue to build on this foundation, exploring new ways to support fair trade artisans and farmers around the world. I’ve learned many things during my first weeks on the job, including how much we rely on the support of those of you receiving this newsletter. You’re critical to our ability to get the job done; whether by purchasing your favorite product, providing funds to meet an artisan in Swaziland, or simply encouraging us to continue our mission when the going gets tough. As we write the next chapter of Serrv’s long fair trade story, we’re grateful to have you along. On behalf of all of us here, thank you.
Loreen Epp Serrv President & CEO