What is “purchasing power”? If you are a consumer (and who isn't) it means, simply, how much product you can get for your money. None of us wants to waste our hard-earned money. But what if your hard earned money, through your purchasing power, also helped out someone else? Someone who, if not given opportunity, might only earn $1.00 a day? World Crafts Fair Trade in Kidron features products made by artisans that are part of co-ops ensuring they are being paid fairly, have good working conditions, preserve cultural traditions, denounce child-labor and factory lockups. By selling Fair Trade products, World Crafts provides steady employment to artisans around the world. These artisans then also have “purchasing power” - the power to send their children to school, put food on the table, repair their house or purchase a flock of chickens. 

For example, in the village of Nyamarambe, Kenya, proceeds from sales of soapstone carvings fund a K-8 community school. Members of the Nyabigena Soapstone Carvers Cooperative decided they wanted to provide quality education for school drop-outs and abused children in their area. Since 2007, they have funded the building, teachers and partial scholarships for the most impoverished families. Currently more than 150 students attend each year. Your purchase of a soapstone carving also helps artisans buy food, pay for health care and cover their portion of school fees for their children. (SERRV.org) 

In Vietnam, Huynh Thanh Tung works with 14 artisans in a large slum area where few employment opportunities exist. Through their work with Mai Handicrafts, they earn twice the average income in their community and receive product design assistance. At the age of 35, married with one child, Huynh has many reasons to appreciate a stable livelihood in recycled paper craft. “This is about my future,” Huynh explains. “So I am thankful for those who are interested in my products.” (SERRV.org) Your purchasing power can help empower needy people around the world! 

See more at World Crafts, 13110 Emerson Road, Kidron Ohio,  330-857-0590, www.worldcraftsfairtrade.com. Stop in on September 17th through the 19th for the 25th Anniversary sale!

Written by www.ohacg.com