This holiday season, shoppers at First Presbyterian Church’s Hope Village, in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä, can buy unique gifts and change the lives of women around the world at the same time.
All proceeds from the sales go to women like Patience Treve, who has been able to feed her family and send her children to school in Ghana thanks in part to proceeds earned from the market.
Treve runs the Ghanan operations of Global Mamas, a nongovernmental organization providing a steady income to around 300 workers in the African nation.
Some of the women print and dye fabric through a process called batiking. Others bead jewelry and ornaments, sew wallets and aprons or make recycled-glass beads. Some are small-business owners themselves who do regular work for Global Mamas. Others, like Treve, work in management, design or quality control.
“In terms of impact that Global Mamas has had on my life, it’s enormous. It’s amazing,†Treve said.
Treve was the first employee of Global Mamas 20 years ago. She was originally hired as a business development consultant. Now, she’s the human resources director.
It was through her Global Mamas income that Treve was able to pay for her oldest daughter to attend secondary school. Global Mamas also provided paid maternity leave when she was pregnant.
“I’ve been able to put food on the table for my children, support my husband,†Treve said in a Zoom interview.
She has also been able to travel the world to collect customer feedback and learn new skills. She teaches her colleagues things like computer literacy and customer service skills.
She also teaches them how to save. Now, about 70% of the employees have a bank account and 20 are living in their own homes through a goal-setting program. Treve has even partnered with community health care providers to offer health education and breast cancer screenings.
Global Mamas is a mainstay vendor at Hope Village, which returns all proceeds back to the organization that provides the products. The project focuses on vendors who are good to their workers and use fair trade principles. Many also have other projects such as schools or teaching people how to make a sustainable living. Most artisans are women.
“There is no one that comes even remotely close to Hope Village and the commitment to us,†said Kristin Doherty, Global Mamas co-founder.
As producers of mainly lightweight clothing, Global Mamas needs the sales revenue in the winter. Doherty said she thinks Hope Village does five-times to 10-times more business than any other holiday event Global Mamas works with.
Stories you might like
- Your Towns: Valley in bloom with new trail in Clendenin and jam sessions in Belle
- Cabin Creek Health Systems holds grand opening for West Side clinic
- 'No rational plan': Federal judge hears from miners, workers affected by NIOSH cuts
- ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä committee OKs future changes for street sweeping, Boulevard speed limit
“The commitment of your community to Global Mamas is very noticed and appreciated,†she said.
Cael Chappell, founder of Baskets of Africa, also praised the commitment of Hope Village, the first holiday market his organization participated in. He said working with Hope Village and the ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä community through leadership changes, a global pandemic and flooding has been inspirational.
“They still kept going with Hope Village every year and never gave up,†he said. “And the community was always out to support Hope Village and support all of these amazing vendors that they work with.â€
Chappell started Baskets of Africa in 2002. He said he saw the American art world get enriched with African art, but didn’t see African artists reaping the benefits.
Now, he pays basket weavers, usually women, a fair wage ahead of time for their work. Proceeds from Hope Village help in the slow months.
“You vote with your dollars and when you’re supporting fair trade, supporting these independent organizations that are getting people to work in their communities around the world and provide these amazing handmade products,†he said. “When you spend your money that way, it really makes a difference in the world, compared to spending it in some other ways that are supporting the opposite.â€
The baskets have their own distinct designs depending on where they come from — countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe and Cameroon. The baskets are some of the most popular products at Hope Village.
Most of the weavers are subsistence farmers who weave when they’re done farming or between harvest and planting. Baskets of Africa allows them to use the money any way they wish.
Chappell said some families spend the money on sending children to school or accessing medical care. Some weavers have pooled money together to drill a well.
“None of this would be possible — this whole project wouldn’t be possible — without those people buying the baskets … from around the world,†Chappell said.
Treve echoed that sentiment, saying that repeat business helps women continue to have steady work and put food on the table. She thanked Dina Mohler and Debbe Moredock, co-chairs of Hope Village.
“Through Global Mamas, incredible things are really happening, and thank you for your support,†she said. “[Without you], we wouldn’t be able to achieve our mission.â€
Hope Village is located in the Activities Building of First Presbyterian Church, 16 Leon Sullivan Way. The store is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Sundays from noon to 3 p.m. until Dec. 3. The store will be open on Black Friday from noon to 3 p.m.
CLICK HERE to follow the ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Gazette-Mail and receive
