Friends Handicrafts works with 125 women in Kathmandu, Nepal to create contemporary products using traditional felting techniques. Co-founders and Directors Shanti and Nirjala were asked to share their thoughts on International Women's Day: We (Shanti and Nirjala) did not get an opportunity to increase our learning to an extensive area; we both wish to spread knowledge and education basically to the future women of this community. An education brings enlighten, knowledge, and culture in the society which is so essential in the present condition of the country to even start to improve from the condition it is in now. So we would like to provide every child (especially deprived) of today and future, an opportunity to get educated so that they can contribute towards the betterment of the nation as a whole. To reach to this goal we plan to serve the under privileged groups first. Friends Handicrafts has been providing free education to two children of an employee (who sadly is no more), but we aim to provide education to all the children of our Friends Handicrafts family. Shanti and Nirjala also asked two Friends Handicrafts employees to share their experiences, hopes and what working with Friends Handicrafts has meant to them: Interview with Sharmila Lama “I attended high school education but did not complete it. I have been associated with Friends Handicrafts for more than five years now. Before that I was unemployed. I used to stay at home and depend in my parents’ income. Now I am so accustomed to Friends Handicrafts working environment that I chose continue working here rather than to work in a co-operative organization that offered me a job. Now, I work as an in charge here. I am independent and can fulfill all my needs and also support my parents to accomplish household needs. I am contented with my achievement till date. I respect all the buyers of Friends Handicrafts products. Because that contribution has uplifted not only my life but many of my colleagues who were in even worst conditions before. Also I request them to continue being loyal to the organization and also encourage others to be associated to Friends Handicrafts because this has been a help to a lot of hardworking women here in Nepal. Thinking of the current situation of Nepalese women, I sincerely wish all of them gets working opportunity to be independent as I did." Interview with Nita Lama "I used to work in other organization before but they paid me very less. Then I joined Friends Handicrafts and it’s almost been three years now. I like working here and I earn much more than before. Now I have a better living condition than past. It has helped me a lot and I will continue this work as long as I can. I am very inspired by Shanti and Nirjala didi (sisters). Even they started from scratch. If they can accomplish so much so can I, and all the women here. We just need support and help from rest of you." Click here to learn more about Friends Handicrafts and purchase their products >>

Artesania Sorata is an artisan cooperative that supports fair trade by employing local indigenous women to produce eco-friendly textiles using natural vegetable dyes. Each piece is representative of cultural symbols and values. In celebration of International Women's Day, Artesania interviewed many of the women that have worked for years making the cozy creations that keep us warm through the winter, like our popular knit fingerless gloves. Watch the full Spanish-language video below, but here are some excerpts: “I wish my co-workers and the women [of Bolivia] health, plenty of work, and that there’s bread every day.” Ivon Sosa, Artesania Sorata, Bolivia “Working with the embroidery of Artesania Sorata has helped me a lot—financially and also with my children’s education. Its helped me in taking care of my children because I do the work from home, I don’t have to go out, so I can take care of my children and make sure they are educated.” Julia Chipana Palle, Artesania Sorata, Bolivia The first things that I want to people who buy the knits that I make, the first things I want them to feel and say is “ how beautiful is this piece, look at the life, how beautiful it is!” Victoria Fernandez, Artesania Sorata, Bolivia [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=os5424MnNbE] (video produced by Michael Sullian) Click here to learn more about Artesania Sorata and purchase their products >>

Kiej de los Bosques fosters and strengthens economic initiatives in rural communities in Guatemala through fair trade. The organization was created to serve as a bridge connecting artisans in impoverished, often remote, areas with active marketplaces throughout the country. Most of Kiej's 85 artisans are mothers with children under the age of 10. By creating a structure that allows the artisans to work at home, Kiej enables them to generate income while caring for their families. WAKAMI, profiled here, is one of the organizations that Kiej works with to offer employment for women. In response to a request for their wishes for women in 2011, WAKAMI says: "We dream of an ideal world: One where everyone lives in harmony, where diversity is celebrated, and where rights and responsibilities are treasured!” Interview with María Felipe Ortiz. 31-years-old, Married, mother of 2 children (6 and 4 years old). Grupo Nueva Esperanza, Nuevo Montecristo, Retalhuleu, Guatemala How has working with Kiej/WAKAMI changed your life? Everything changed. The first thing that it did was improve our financials, because working is the only thing that can help us fulfill all of our needs….  My older son now goes to school, my little girl will also go. With the money that I have, I have the power to buy what my family needs. Now I can dream, and with the money that I have earned I can realize those dreams. I have begun having new hopes again. We in the group are proud and happy because they reached out to us to help and we responded. What would you like to say to the people who purchase the products that you make? When customers buy our products, they should know that we have produced them with our dreams and hopes in mind. Our production is not only quality, but it also gives us work and the drive to continue. I hope that they keep purchasing, because this is strength for our group. What are your hopes for the women of Guatemala for the coming year? My wish for the women of Guatemala is that they have the opportunities that we have had. I want to tell them to keep up the desire to continue preparing themselves for work and for their studies so that we can make more of our lives. If we have these things, then no one can hold us back. Power to Women!!! Interview with Sandra Solares 33 years old, divorced, mother of 2 children (13 and 11 years old), her mother and handicapped brother live with her Grupo: Primavera, Monte Redondo Guatemala How has working with Kiej/WAKAMI changed your life? WAKAMI really changed my life. Now I am a professional. At the end of last year, with much effort, I received my certification to be a middle school teacher. Ever since I was a child, I had this dream, but since I never had the resources, I was at a standstill. Now I am in charge as the Director of a learning center. I believe that education will open doors for us, and with WAKAMI I have not only been able to pay for my studies, but I have also been able to pay for my daughters’ educations. I believe that their lives will be different, because they will have the chance for a better education. But we still have time for WAKAMI, because I like it, the work fascinates me and suits me.   As the leader of a group, I no longer produce but I coordinate the production. Because of my role, I know that working with WAKAMI has changed the lives of the other women that I work with. They have invested the money that they earn in fulfilling their dreams: improving their houses, providing more food and better nutrition for their families, and helping their husbands with household expenses. What would you like to say to the people who purchase the products that you make? If I could meet one of our customers, face to face, I would say that they should buy our products because by doing so they are helping many people realize their dreams. I would tell them that their purchase allows us to have a better life. I would tell them that all of us that are making these products do it with much effort and dedication, because we know that if you are a client of WAKAMI, you deserve the best. What are your hopes for the women of Guatemala for the coming year?I wish that all women will continue to fight for what we want, that we will never allow anyone to mistreat us or discriminate again us. The women of the world and of Guatemala are very powerful, so if we put our minds to it, we can accomplish great things! Click here to learn more about Kiej de los Bosques and purchase their products >>

Streetwires of South Africa works with Zulu wire art craftspeople, who mold recycled wire, beads, and tin cans into colorful toys, keychains, jewelry, and gifts. Established in 2000, it provides training, support, and raw materials to over 100 formerly unemployed men and women in Cape Town and rural Clanwilliam.

Here’s what Streetwires has to say about the work that they do and their place in the community: Many of the women in the Streetwires community are from the rural parts of the Eastern Cape, and many have been disadvantaged not just economically, but also in terms of access to educational institutions. We have at Streetwires been able to train some of our beading ladies into administrative positions where they have learned both computer literacy and business savvy. It is our wish to be able to train more women in the same way in order to assist both their personal andeconomic growth. To celebrate International Women’s Day, Streetwires interviewed three of the vibrant women who work there. Each began as an entry-level beader and has moved up in the organization: Interview with Mabel Mtali, Dispatch and Export Administrator in training How has working with Streetwires changed your life? Well, I started here in 2002. Before that I worked in the clothing industry and for a short time in security but I didn’t like it that much. Then I joined Streetwires doing beading but soon afterwards I moved into quality control. And I worked there for many years until I was moved to the reception answering the phone and welcoming visitors. I was very happy in the reception but then I got sick ( T.B) and I couldn’t work for a year. When I was cleared for work, I came back to SW and now I am working in dispatch and I am going to learn all about exporting. What would you like to say to the people who purchase the products that you make? For us its a very good thing because then we have work, and the more orders that we have, the more income we earn. What are your hopes for the women of South Africa for the coming year? We need jobs for the people that haven’t got work, and there must be less crime against women. Interview with Sibongiseni Ndzeku , Shop Assistant How has working with Streetwires changed your life? Now I am able to communicate with people and explain what we do. I never did beading before Streetwires and now I know how but now I am working in the shop. I am able to express my feelings now and I am happy because I have more experience in working with people and working with the POS computer system. I am happy because so many people are interested in what we do. What would you like to say to the people who purchase the products that you make? I’d like to say thanks to them for buying our products and I’d like them to buy more products just because we have beautiful stuff. What are your hopes for the women of South Africa for the coming year? I wish them to be responsible for our children so that they can grow into clever adults. We need education and jobs for women so that we can look after our families. Interview with Sidumisile Gasela , Sample Beader (develops products and sets standards for other beaders) How has working with Streetwires changed your life? I didn’t have work when I came to South Africa from Zimbabwe, but I came to Streetwires and I learned to bead. That was in 2003. I am a very good beader so now I am beading with the sample artists, which means I make new samples. I made many friends at Streetwires and I met my partner here as well. What would you like to say to the people who purchase the products that you make? I would say thanks for buying our products because this is how we make our money and also because we make very special things. What are your hopes for the women of South Africa for the coming year? I wish for them more money and love and everything! Click here to learn more about Streetwires and purchase their products >>

Kandahar Treasure employs 350 women artisans who use a rare form of hand embroidery to decorate scarves and purses. The organization distributes raw materials so that women can earn a living while working in the safety of their own homes. Kandahar Treasures’ wish for the women of Afghanistan is for a peaceful and stable country. “The women of Afghanistan are tired of over 30 years of war and as the biggest and quietest victims of all, the women are now calling upon their sisters all over the world to help them get out of this violence.” Here are the words of Parween, one of the many women working with Kandahar Treasure: How has working with Kandahar Treasure changed your life? I have 7 children and I never thought that it was my duty to help my family until my husband lost his job and I was forced to come out of the house to work for my family.  It was hard in the beginning, but after a while I realized that working and earning an income gave me independence and confidence that I never thought I had!  Shorwa (soup made with lamb or beef) is a must in many Afghan families for dinner and before I was working, my husband would eat the meat and I would eat bread with the broth - but now that I am working I eat the meat as well!  I no longer feel bad or feel that I am a burden for my husband. What would you like to say to the people who purchase the products that you make? Thank you for making me and all of the other 350 women feel that we can be active citizens of our society as well.  We are better than our men because we spend our income on our children unlike our husbands.  Feel proud of the product you have purchased because you give us an opportunity to continue to empower ourselves, our families and our communities.  Again, we thank you for your support. What are your hopes for the women of Afghanistan for the coming year? I hope that all of the women of Afghanistan can unite to speak loud and clear to their leaders and the world that they are tired of this unjust war and that will no longer sit silent to watch their loved ones die in unjust attacks.  I hope that our ability to earn and bring an income to our homes will make the men believe that not only can we take care of our homes and children, but we can also be active participants and positive and peaceful agents of peace in Afghanistan. To read more about Kandahar Treasure and purchase their products, click here.