Blog

Hi, It’s Tiffany, one of the organizers of the Eau Claire Global Market. I’m pretty much breaking all the rules by going to first person, but I’m having a hard time keeping myself out of these posts. Seriously, these organizations are all incredible! Elevat is another ‘new to us’ business joining us this year. Elevat provides sustainable income to talented artisans in 20 different countries. On their website, www.elevatin, has a unique feature where you can search their products by cause. I randomly chose, ‘Orphans and Families’ (what do you choose, when every category is so important?!). The item that immediately struck me was, ‘Syrian Refugee Scarf.’ It’s made by women in a Syrian refugee camp in Jordan. The Syrian refugee experience has been weighing on me heavily. Learning about Elevat, I loved that 100% of the profit goes back to the artisans. It’s nice to know that when I lust over beautiful items, like this scarf, I can actually purchase it and know that I’m actually making difference in the life of someone in need . On November 9th, the world will feel a bit smaller and more connected.

In recent years, the arduous, dangerous journey of many people to the USA from Central America, has been front page news. In the USA, it has been hard to know how to help the plight of individuals so far away. Finally here is a tangible way to help! Check out and purchase from Mayamam Weavers at the Eau Claire Global Market! Mayamam Weavers is an organization from Cajola, Guatemala that provides fair trade wages to 20 women in their community, so they don’t need to leave their families to seek financial security. Mayamam Weavers, formed in 2008, provides their weavers and seamstresses with fair trade wages, business skills, on-site childcare, and adult literacy classes. Buy these beautiful hand made textiles and go home guilt free! Check out the video below that showcases these talented women and their beautiful products! Check out their website for details at https://www.mayamamweavers.com/

Divas Fair Trade is a terrific business. The founder and owner, Guisela Pinto, and her family come each year to sell at the Eau Claire Global Market. Guisela’s warm smile matches the beautiful warm items that she sells. Her alpaca mittens and hats are such a hit! Once you get over your obsession with the alpaca items, your eyes will scan the table and you will see the cutest knit hats, brightly decorated gourds, and other items that you didn’t even know that you needed! Divas Fair Trade lets you shop and feel comfortable knowing that you are supporting a business that puts strives for equality and sustainability into every item they sell. Learn more about this marvelous business and their background at divasfairtrade.com

We are are so excited to have Grandmother Circles joining us again this year. They have become known for selling terrific hats, mittens, jewelry, fabric goods, and stocking stuffers. Proceeds from this sale will go specifically to providing scholarships for 20 girls attending a boarding high school in Homa Bay, Kenya. Learn more at their blog:https://grandmothercircles.org/

Check out this fabulous video about Grandmother Circles here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5T6B6BFqgY&feature=youtu.be

The Eau Claire Global Market is excited to introduce you to Melinda Van Slyke of Spring Green, Wisconsin and her organization, Heart of the Sky Fair Trade: Fair Trade Textiles and Jewelry From Guatemala and Fair Trade Baskets From Ghana.

Melinda has a deep passion for social justice and human rights.  Melinda began importing fair trade textiles and bead work from Guatemala as a way to improve the lives of people that she met there while volunteering as a human rights observer in a refugee community.  Over the years she began selling fair trade baskets from Ghana. She makes it a point to source merchandise from family workshops, family run businesses, and women led cooperatives. 

You can check out Heart of the Sky Fair Trade at: http://www.heartoftheskyfairtrade.com/

MEET THE GLOBAL MAMA OF THE YEAR COMFORT AMANOR

Comfort Amanor has been making beads in collaboration with Global Mamas since we first started incorporating jewelry into our line.  She is known for producing consistently high quality beads and being unafraid of a challenge: even producing the tiny “waist” beads doesn’t waive her upbeat attitude!

In addition to being the main provider for her children and nephews, a notable accomplishment in and of itself, over the years Comfort has saved up enough of her earnings to purchase a plot land.  Becoming a landowner in Ghana, particularly as a woman, is a truly remarkable achievement.

Even with inclusive laws in place to protect the right for women in Ghana to own land, the reality is that barriers remain.  Often a woman’s only claim to the land she relies on for food, income, and shelter is through her relationship to a male relative.  Due to lack of control, she can be easily displaced or exploited.  

Land owners control the resources and therefore bear the social, economic, and political power.  When women have secure rights to land their status improves and they are better able to take care of themselves and their families. Comfort is proud to be a landowner knowing it helps secure the future of her family.

With characteristic determination Comfort is already saving and planning towards her next goal. She looks forward to beginning construction on a new home for her family in coming years.

We are honored to have Comfort as a valued member of our community and are inspired by her accomplishments. Please join us in sending best wishes and CONGRATULATIONS to our Global Mama of the year!

— Courtesy of Global Mamas