New Fair Trade Products at Our East Store!
Recently, our East Store brought in new lanterns and candleholders made by artisans in Moradabad, India. Both Serrv and Ten Thousand Villages support artisan groups in Moradabad. Through their fair trade sales, these artisans support their independent businesses, break the poverty cycle, and simultaneously preserve Indian culture and traditional livelihoods.
Since 2011, SERRV has provided a long-term trading partnership with interest-free advance payments for orders.
Over 300 individual artisans from 38 different groups receive fair wages, business skills training, and resources to allow them to become self-sufficient. Artisans also invest in their community improvement projects, including clean water, education, and health initiatives.
Ten Thousand Villages works with Noah's Ark International Exports is a fair trade handicraft marketing organization. Noah's Ark started in 1986, in one room of a family house in Moradabad. Businessman Samuel Masih observed that exporters and middlemen were taking advantage of handicraft artisans. He started Noah's Ark to fairly promote these artisans and their crafts. Noah's Ark provides benefits such as education and medical treatment for artisans and their families. As artisan businesses become more self-sufficient, Noah's Ark takes on new families. Since the company's inception, about 20 artisan workshops have become independent.
Our East Store has also brought in decorative boxes made from recycled paper pulp, paper mache. Since 1976, SERRV has partnered with these artisans in Mumbai, India, providing a long-term trading partnership and interest-free advance payment for orders. Through sales of their products, over 800 artisans in more than 50 cooperatives and family workshops throughout India receive vital income, interest-free loans, business and computer training, and advances to purchase raw materials. They also receive the support of welfare workers who help provide health clinics and education for children, increase sanitation, and improve their living conditions.