World of Good: Social Impact Report 2006

World of Good Social Impact Report 2006

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The Power to Change the World | Economic Sustainability | Social Transformation

The Power to Change the World: A message from the CEO

Dear Partners & Friends,
When most companies close the year, they assess their financial performance and thank their customers for sales. While we definitely succeeded on that dimension this year with over 1,000 retail locations across the United States and 300% sales growth, our far more important impact was increasing the quality of life for thousands of women and children across the globe – and we want to thank you for making that possible.

This year as we wrote this report we had the opportunity to hear from hundreds of partners across 34 countries where life is improving as a result of growing fair trade partnerships. For me, the important thing is not only providing employment for the 5,680 artisans who actually craft the beautiful handmade goods, but to also see the inter-generational shift that occurs when the earning power of women increases. Studies have shown that as income increases to more than $2 per day, there are many quantifiable social impacts such as decreased infant mortality, longer life expectancy, and lower health care costs. So knowing that over 22,720 dependents and family members benefited this year is something that will have an lasting impact across hundreds of changing communities.

This is also why through World of Good Development Organization (our 501(c)3 sister organization) we have launched the Fair Trade Wage Guide (FTWG), a web based tool to help all companies calculate and pay fair wages. In developing countries, between 60-80% of women comprise the informal sector which includes making products at home, cleaning and/or farming. In these trade environments there is little regulation and almost no negotiating power to prevent exploitation. As U.S. companies increasingly import products made in the informal sector, we need to ensure that these workers are treated fairly. Thanks to the leadership of the team at World of Good Development Organization, the FTWG is becoming a robust tool and an international resource for partner organizations like The International Fair Trade Association. We’ve even had conversations to pursue collaboration with the International Labor Organization.

Finally, this year has also led to increasing investments in community development projects around the world. We are now reaching a scale as a company where we can make an additional meaningful impact by supporting socio-economic improvements in some of the villages where our artisan partners live. This year when I went to Kenya I had the chance to hear firsthand how the building of two wells has changed the lives of women who were walking almost three hours a day just to get drinkable water. Thanks to your purchases, a small grant was made and has now transformed the daily lives of these women – allowing them to spend more time with their children as well as doing other productive activities for their families.
Everyday, I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to work together to build a new vision of commerce – where the products themselves are the source of good things in the world. Thank you for being a partner in this ambitious endeavor. I think we are unlocking a new future.
Priya Haji,
Co-founder & CEO

Economic Sustainability

In 2006 World of Good worked with 142 artisan groups in 34 countries. Here, we report on just a few of the groups who told us how World of Good was changing their lives by providing regular income, improving their working conditions and increasing the quality of life for their families.

Shiva Shakthi

Country: India
Number of Artisans: 35 women
Number of Dependents: 105
Expertise: Sewing and Embroidering
Products Carried by World of Good: Transformation Tote, Inner Reflections, Jump for Joy

“To be very honest, Shiva Shakthi is still existing today because of World of Good. We have been training women for about 8 years but could not give them regular employment since we could not find adequate markets for the products. Regular orders from World of Good have meant regular incomes for these women. This has benefited them in so many ways – physically, socially and psychologically. World of Good has understood our motives and have been supporting us because, I guess, they have the same motives – helping the poor. They have also been increasing the volume of orders to us without any requests to reduce prices which I believe is the usual norm in business practices. All I can say at this point is what I often repeat – World of Good has really lived up to its name since they have done us a world of good!”
- Dr. Uma, Shiva Shakthi

Footloose

Country: Tanzania
Number of Artisans: 175 (150 women, 25 men)
Number of Dependents: 750
Expertise: Basket Weaving
Products Carried by World of Good: Sweet Success, It Takes a Village, Wonderful Women Weave

As a result of working with World of Good, the living conditions of groups we are working with has improved because we pre-paid them and they managed to make many more items than what they have done before. The money was used for school fees and school uniforms so the groups were very committed.”
- Ndelle and Joyce, Footloose

Mercado Global

Country: Guatemala
Number of Artisans: 84 (78 women, 6 men)
Number of Dependents: 546
Expertise: Beading jewelry, sewing and potting
Products Carried by World of Good: Berry Good Bag, Not Just Cosmetic, Delicate Strength, Colors of the Rainbow, Crystal Clear

“Earnings from the sale of our products to World of Good were used by artisans primarily to 1) supplement their families’ diets with more nutritious foods, especially fruit and meat which are generally too expensive, 2) cover the cost of sending additional children to school and 3) purchase additional tools and technology for safer, more efficient working conditions.”
- Ruth DeGolia, Mercado Global

Social Transformation

Thanks to our fundraising efforts as well as the support of our many volunteers and retailers we were able to raise enough money to fund 8 development grants through World of Good Development Organization , our sister non-profit.

Computer Lab
StreetWires (South Africa)

This grant provided artisans with access to information, resources and a wider professional network. Artisan Christopher Sandisolo tells us, “I only started appreciating computers when I started learning how to use them after the donation. I can now check my email and I have also subscribed for art and craft articles. I’ve moved from being an ordinary man in the wire and bead industry into an upcoming craft designer.”

Educational Toys for Preschool
Shiva Shakthi (India)

This grant funded educational toys and equipment for a preschool in this artisan community. The children of the artisans attend the preschool while their mothers embroider pouches, totes and slings nearby.

Medical Equipment
Freeset Bags (India)

This artisan group covers the cost of emergency medical care for its artisans. This grant allows Freeset to make non-emergency, regular healthcare accessible by funding the equipment to create an on-site patient examination room for routine check-ups.

Water System
Ajquema Cooperative (Guatemala)

Hurricane Stan ravaged the water system in the Guatemalan community of Zaput in 2005, leaving the artisans without access to clean drinking water. This grant provides the resources to rebuild and improve the water system that serves the whole community.

Furniture for Preschool
Aulac (Vietnam)

Artisans in Ha Tay province were awarded this grant to purchase furniture for a preschool in their community.

Kindergarten Renovation
Kandari (Indonesia)

This grant will fund the purchase of learning materials, playground equipment, bookshelves and art supplies that will support the kindergarten’s curriculum and develop the children’s creativity.

Freshwater Wells
Nyabigena (Kenya)

Until 2006, artisans in the Nyabigena soapstone carving community in Kenya had to walk three hours a day to access clean water. With the World of Good Development Organization grant the artisans now have two freshwater wells right in their community. Some have used the time saved to start a community garden and a sewing cooperative.

We look forward to having an even greater impact in 2007!