Once considered trash, used rice bags are now turned into gorgeous treasures!  The Artisans' Association of Cambodia crafts beautiful products such as wallets, totes, duffel bags, and cosmetic cases from recycled rice bags that were once destined for the landfill.  Each handcrafted product is super sturdy and displays a unique print.  The Artisans' Association of Cambodia really makes an impact with its fair trade, environmentally friendly creations! These rice bag accessories are not only good for the environment, but also provide a living wage for Cambodia's artisans. The AAC provides jobs for the country's most marginalized groups including trafficked women, landmine victims, polio sufferers, and severely impoverished families.  The revenue brought to communities through the AAC's efforts have improved public health, education, literacy, and women's rights.  Support The Artisans' Association of Cambodia and the communities it helps today by purchasing one of these sustainable rice bag designs! Shop for these and other great rice bag products from The Artisans' Association of Cambodia at www.globalgoodspartners.org.

Linen is made from fibers harvested from the flax plant. After the flax plants are harvested, they need to be retted to dissolve the pectin that keeps the bundles of fibers attached to the core of the stem. Retting can be done by leaving the stems exposed to the weather for several weeks (the dew and rain will remove the pectin) or by soaking the stems in a river or stream. Once the stems are retted and the bundles are loosened, the plants are beaten with a stick or other tool to crush the tough core of the stem. The fibers, including the linen flax, remain intact and are then drawn through a heckling comb to align all of the fibers than can be spun into cloth. Now that you know how it's made, check out a finished product for yourself, like this beautiful two-toned linen scarf handwoven in India!

La Casa de Acogida Mantay is one of our artisan partners in Peru. Mantay is a refuge for teenage mothers who have been victims of abuse and are unable to stay with their families. Mantay provides young mothers and their children with accommodation, food, clothing, medical care, counseling, basic education, parental guidance, legal counseling and vocational training. As part of the vocational training program, inhabitants apprentice at a leather workshop on the grounds, and once they turn 18 they transition out of the home, but can return to work full-time in the leather workshop. Since Mantay was founded in May of 2000, more than 300 children and adolescent mothers have passed through the home. We recently awarded Mantay with a grant to help them renovate a restroom that had leaking pipes and water damage in order to improve living conditions for the residents. Work began in January and the restroom has been functional since the end of April. There are now four showers, three toilets for adults and two children, and three sinks (two at a height for adults and one for children). The new sinks have automatic shut-off keys to save water and the bathroom was repainted with anti-moisture paint to ensure that steam from the showers does not damage the roof. The size of the window was also expanded to improve ventilation. Check out these great photos of kids at Mantay showing off the newly renovated restroom: We also received this amazing message of thanks from Mantay regarding our contribution: "THANKS to all the team at Global Goods Partners, for the trust you have placed in our project, contributing to the stability of the bridge, which is the guesthouse Mantay, for our young mothers between their past and future they wish to pursue." Learn more about Mantay and the goods they produce here.

Get ready to go back to school with Global Goods Partners.  We have beautiful handmade journals, bags, bracelets, and school supplies accessories to help make the new school year a little more bearable.