Partners for Just Trade
Partners for Just Trade is a non-profit organization that builds partnerships between producers living in extreme poverty and consumers in North America. They address root causes of poverty through fair trade sales, education, solidarity, and a commitment to trade justice.
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Partners for Just Trade is a non-profit organization that builds partnerships between producers living in extreme poverty and consumers in North America. They address root causes of poverty through fair trade sales, education, solidarity, and a commitment to trade justice.
PJT works with more than 15 artisan groups, with over 200 producers. The fair wages the artisans and farmers receive enables them to afford food, shelter, and medicine for their families, educate their children and reclaim personal dignity so they may assert their economic, political and social rights.
Greenheart carries products from two of PJT’s producer groups: Ima Sumacc and El Mercurio. Ima Sumacc is a fair trade cooperative of five women. They live in the shantytown of Torre de Melgar in Lima’s violence-prone Villa Maria del Triunfo. A few years ago they were trained from a non-profit organization which strengthened their skills in knitting. Each afternoon they develop their knitting skills in a fair trade workshop. These enterprising women have created a place which not only houses their production of handmade products, but has also become a place of important solidarity and sharing. For this reason, the women call their group “Ima Sumacc”, which in Quechua means “How beautiful”.
El Mercurio is a cooperative based in the outskirts of Huancavelica, one of the poorest regions in Peru. The group began in 2003 with five women and has expanded to over thirty women. Most of the women fled to the outskirts of Huancavelica in the 1980s, escaping the horrific violence in the Huancavelica countryside. Some of the women of El Mercurio are orphans. Most still have family land in Santa Barbara but are unable to eke out an existence there as the community is still rebuilding llama herds and recovering from the loss of key community leaders.
These women have incredible abilities to knit but have been unable to channel their talent in a marketable way. Through PJT, they are able to earn a living wage for their work and sell their products. In addition to increasing the members’ income exponentially over the years, the group has also provided important support for the members. The workshop provides a safe space for members to share the joys and challenges of their everyday lives.
Many groups in Peru produce finger puppets and when a local NGO presented El Mercurio with the idea, got out their knitting needles and bicycle spokes (when they didn't have needles), and started letting their creativity run wild. Their sets are precious and contain details that make their finger puppets stand apart. None of their homes have space for them to work together so for $3 a month, they rent a one-room house in which they gather every morning and late afternoon.
In addition to increasing the members’ income exponentially over the years, the group has also provided important support for the members. The workshop provides a safe space for members to share the joys and challenges of their everyday lives.
Photos by Partners for Just Trade
PJT works with more than 15 artisan groups, with over 200 producers. The fair wages the artisans and farmers receive enables them to afford food, shelter, and medicine for their families, educate their children and reclaim personal dignity so they may assert their economic, political and social rights.
Greenheart carries products from two of PJT’s producer groups: Ima Sumacc and El Mercurio. Ima Sumacc is a fair trade cooperative of five women. They live in the shantytown of Torre de Melgar in Lima’s violence-prone Villa Maria del Triunfo. A few years ago they were trained from a non-profit organization which strengthened their skills in knitting. Each afternoon they develop their knitting skills in a fair trade workshop. These enterprising women have created a place which not only houses their production of handmade products, but has also become a place of important solidarity and sharing. For this reason, the women call their group “Ima Sumacc”, which in Quechua means “How beautiful”.
El Mercurio is a cooperative based in the outskirts of Huancavelica, one of the poorest regions in Peru. The group began in 2003 with five women and has expanded to over thirty women. Most of the women fled to the outskirts of Huancavelica in the 1980s, escaping the horrific violence in the Huancavelica countryside. Some of the women of El Mercurio are orphans. Most still have family land in Santa Barbara but are unable to eke out an existence there as the community is still rebuilding llama herds and recovering from the loss of key community leaders.
These women have incredible abilities to knit but have been unable to channel their talent in a marketable way. Through PJT, they are able to earn a living wage for their work and sell their products. In addition to increasing the members’ income exponentially over the years, the group has also provided important support for the members. The workshop provides a safe space for members to share the joys and challenges of their everyday lives.
Many groups in Peru produce finger puppets and when a local NGO presented El Mercurio with the idea, got out their knitting needles and bicycle spokes (when they didn't have needles), and started letting their creativity run wild. Their sets are precious and contain details that make their finger puppets stand apart. None of their homes have space for them to work together so for $3 a month, they rent a one-room house in which they gather every morning and late afternoon.
In addition to increasing the members’ income exponentially over the years, the group has also provided important support for the members. The workshop provides a safe space for members to share the joys and challenges of their everyday lives.
Photos by Partners for Just Trade
