Tina's Great Things is dedicated to empowering African women and combating poverty among women and children, especially orphans, through the sale of fair trade products and the encouragement of entrepreneurial effort through the concept of micro enterprise. We only buy from companies who embrace fair trade by paying a living wage and providing a comfortable and safe working environment to those they employ. Though we pay more for the product, we keep prices as low as possible in an effort to increase volume and thereby keep as many women working as long as possible. Our goal is not profit but the improvement of living conditions and self sufficiency for as many women and children as possible.

We believe that the only way out of poverty is through education and possibly even more importantly, success in business. Every dollar of net profit will be returned to Africa to encourage entrepreneurial opportunities for poor women or to support orphans. This will be accomplished by making contributions to organizations which make grants or provide loans to poor women to start micro home based businesses which can provide a steady income flow as opposed to a handout which makes them dependent. Other contributions will be made in support of orphans health and education.

Background

All of our handbags are hand woven from sisal or baobab and most are trimmed in leather or suede. Everything is done by hand including attaching the handles and beads and everything is hand stitched. As a result each handbag is unique and there are variations in color and patterns because each one is made by a different woman. They are made by 25 women of the Kamba tribe in a workshop in Nyacindo, Kenya. The workshop is part of the African Pro-poor Tourism Development Center, a fair trade non-profit organization located in Nairobi which tries to address the problems of poverty, youth unemployment, and gender inequality in rural communities. More than 50% of Kenyans live below the poverty line and a large majority are women who are the sole breadwinners in many rural homes. Life expectancy is only46 years in Kenya and there are many widows and orphans due to the AIDS epidemic. The women who work on the hand bags are widows or their husbands are unable to work, and most have several children to support.

The women can only work 5 hours a hours a day because they have so much to do at home including gathering firewood, taking care of the cattle, doing a little farming, cooking, etc. It takes a woman approximately one week of 5 hour days to complete a bag. They lead very difficult lives and the work at the workshop provides them with time to socialize. The workshop is self managed and salaries and working conditions are well above similar production facilities in the area. Members of the group are trained to make high quality products, how to save and invest their earning, how to form social groups, and how to improve their welfare. The fact that they have a job and can support their families improves their self esteem and prospects for a brighter future for themselves and their children. These jobs can actually mean the difference between life and death and therefore it is important that they have steady work. Our goal is to keep the woman working for as long as possible and hopefully provide additional employment opportunities for others.

Empowering African women to combat poverty
through Fair Trade and the concept of Micro Enterprise...

© 2007 Tina’s Great Things

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