How we make a difference
Grow together
In 2006, we started with a group of 10 people. Our dream is to consist of 1,000 people. And every year, we come a little closer to fulfilling that dream.
Fair trade
The 10 principles of fair trade are our guiding principles. Together with our producers, we make sure their business operations are geared towards these principles
We’re often asked what our artisans make. Fair trade assumes living wages, and not minimum wages which are set by each countries’ government. With living wages, you can create a life. You’ll have enough resources to provide a good future for yourself and your children.
Even fairder
We even go beyond fair wages: we call it living wage plus. Our employees feel education is very important. And because understanding your financial situation, knowing what you can do with your money, is not a logical part of society in countries like Nepal, we give extra attention to this and set up programs to ensure this.
We all want to live not just to exist.
This is how
Since 1948, the United Nations has recognized a living wage as a human right. But it’s not that clear-cut.
But to make sure that this is also true for our makers, we often do our own research. For instance, our makers will keep a household budget for one month. They write down all their expenses and we talk about some of the unexpected costs that can arise. This gives us a clear picture of the real situation. We look at the gap between the wages and what is really needed. And we take steps to close that gap.
Short and long term
In those conversations with our employees, we don’t just talk about the facts but also about the way a job and (self-earned) money influences you and the way you live with your family. We often hear that having a job provides a feeling of independence and (relative) freedom. By repeating this research every year, we hope to get a clear picture about our impact both in the short and the long term.
Equal opportunities for women
In many countries it’s not normal for women to be part of the workforce. Women often stop working when they have children. That means less income for the family while there are more mouths to feed. We believe men and women are completely equal and deserve the same opportunities to grow. That is why we make sure the work environment is safe, offer childcare facilities, and support the return to the workforce after pregnancy. We are proud to say the majority of our artisans is female.
Coaching entrepreneurs
We want our artisans to feel safe and supported, just like our team members in Amsterdam. The goal is to all grow together. That’s why we encourage our artisans and have coaching programs focused on topics such as financial management, business operation, quality improvement, and marketing. We also search for new customers. Sustainable cooperation also ensures stability for the artisans.
Our dream
Our story started in Nepal. That’s where our heart is and we’ll always continue our work there. But our dream is to eventually produce and sell products on all continents. We want to show that you’re able to work like this all over the world.