Ganesh Himal Trading

Tag: ACP

  • Power of 5 launched and Girls Scholarships get funded!

    While in Nepal in 2013, Ganesh Himal staff had the opportunity to meet with two recipients of the ACP Girl Child Education Fund, an girl scholarship fund at the Association for Craft Producers that Ganesh Himal has donated to for years. Sisters Heema, 16, and Heena, 10, had both received a scholarship for 3 years and loved school, but their scholarships were ending. Due to high demand for the program and lack of funds, ACP had to limit scholarships to no longer than 3 years for the children of their producers. Determined to extend Heema and Heena’s scholarships, we at Ganesh Himal each donated $5 with the dream that we could get 1000 people to do the same. The Power of 5 campaign was born.

    What can $5 do? It can buy you a coffee, or a hamburger. It can buy you a gallon of gas. Or, it can help a girl in Nepal attend school for 2 weeks. That means that for 10 days a young girl is reading, writing, learning with her friends, and stretching her imagination. What happens if she isn’t at school? She is three times more likely to be married before her 18th birthday. She stays at home, and the traditional cycle of exclusion that keeps girls disengaged from decision making continues. $5 helps a young girl battle the cycle of poverty.

    Now imagine if all of your friends gave $5. Then they asked all of their friends to donate $5? 10 friends donating $5 is a scholarship for one girl to go to school for 6 months! That’s a ripple–an ever-expanding body of people changing the lives of girls in Nepal. And the ripple doesn’t stop there. These girls each create their own ripples of change starting with their families, then their village, and even their country. When 10% more girls go to school, a country’s GDP increases an average of 3% according to the Council of Foreign Relations. That affects the world. The ripple is limitless, and it starts with $5. This is the Power of 5.

    Our goal is to sponsor at least 100 girls, or boys if in need, in Nepal for one more year of schooling through the ACP Child Education Fund. In order to do so, we need 2,000 people to donate $5. We’ve created beautiful bookmarks for you to use to collect donations. By asking for a $5 donation for each bookmark you place in your store, you not only help us reach our goal, but you start the discussion about why girls are such an amazing investment and about why they aren’t in school.

    There are two ways of creating a ripple:

    Personal Ripple– Place  bookmarks in your store and ask for a donation of $5 for each.Customers can get involved as individuals and feel good knowing that 100% of their donation is going towards the ACP Child Education Fund. Not only that, their donation is tax deductible through the Conscious Connections Foundation, a foundation started by the founders of Ganesh Himal Trading.

    Power of 5 Ripple–

    Encourage friends/regular customers/community members to take a packet of bookmarks (either 5, 15, or 30) to distribute for donations amongst their friends. If each person finds 5 friends who turn around and find 5 friends, then through networking, the ripple multiplies by the power of 5. You can use your store as the collection point, creating community and exposing new people to the world of Fair Trade and girl’s education.

    Join the Power of 5 campaign today. Here’s how…

    1) Request a packet of bookmarks via the Ganesh Himal website. www.ganeshhimaltrading.com If you want to participate in the Power of 5 Ripple then order multiple smaller packets; if a personal Ripple better suits your store, then order one large packet.

    2) We will issue you an invoice for the number of bookmarks you want and send them with your next order.

    3) You gather donations for the bookmarks and write a check to Conscious Connections Foundation and send it to PO Box 342 Spokane WA  for the amount of donations gathered. Please put  “donation for Power of 5”  in the memo line. The Power of 5 is a project of the Conscious Connections Foundation which is a 501©3 nonprofit organization recognized by the IRS. EIN #:471602190 and all donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

    4) CCF is all volunteer run and so is the program in Nepal so 100% of donations will go directly to sending children, who otherwise would not be able to attend, to school in Nepal. Our focus and priority is on sending girls to school but if girls are served and boys are in need we will sponsor them as well.  If each of us gives a little, it’s no longer pocket change but big change: JOIN THE POWER OF 5!

    Use these to generate donations for the scholarship fund AND raise awareness about the importance of educating girls!

  • Spokane City Forum, Reading, and Product of the Week

    Hello Blog Readers!

    It’s the newly established Ganesh Himal Trading Intern.

    Before I begin I want to share my excitement about a product I discovered while exploring the Ganesh Himal Trading inventory: the little felted elephant bags. They had caught my eye when I was browsing the website and during my tour of Ganesh Himal Trading. Between the adorable design and the story behind them, I couldn’t resist featuring them in my blog post. The design reminds me of a bag I had as a child, a horse purse, who was a stuffed animal with a zipper across the back and the bag compartment was his stomach. Adding to the whimsical design of these bags are some wonderfully unexpected color combinations. Long story short,  I may soon be walking out  with one of these bags for some young girls who live next door.

    The elephant bags are created by a group of crafters that was formed by a former employee of the Association for Craft Producers (ACP), Hari Basnet. Hari, with the help of ACP and Ganesh Himal Trading started his own business, and up until his recent death employed 15 women with steady work and fair wage. The women have been able to continue on carrying on his mission. I find his mission and commitment to women very admirable.

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    I had a fun time herding up some bags for this photo

    In addition to Hari Basnet, I also loved hearing the individual stories of producers from Denise at the Spokane City Forum on the 17th. The stories of the women are so empowering, how through their employment they have become strong and are now advocates for their communities. I hope to bring the same empowerment to women in my career. I was very excited to attend because my dad, who works at First Presbyterian Church, has been encouraging me for months to attend City Forums and I’m glad I finally received  the opportunity.  What I loved almost as much as I loved hearing Denise and Kim speak, was seeing how the audience reacted. They were completely hooked and when Denise passed around some examples of the products made from what was considered trash (tire innertubes and recycled billboards)–the audience was tickled. Each person examined the products with glee, smiles and whispers of admiration to their colleagues.

    After my first day I was given some reading to do, “An Overview of Fair Trade in North America” which gave the basics of Fair Trade: its history; its principles, importance, major names, challenges and personal impact. Everyone should read or a least skim through a copy. The pamphlet may not be every one’s cup of tea, I would say a lot fact based reading isn’t, but it gives a great overview of the subject including a conflict I found particularly interesting. The concern is over the emerging differences between certification guidelines.

    The overview mentioned the specific coffee and how different groups are now allowing hired labor and plantations to have their coffee certified. I would like to avoid becoming pessimistic but I believe caution should be taken to ensure there are guidelines. The typical consumer is most likely unaware of these differences. While this may be good for business and while I am not condemning organizations for altering guidelines to encourage larger companies and corporations to apply for certification to encourage the shift to fair trade practices, I am worried this could dilute the reputation of the fair trade, much like the USDA’s organic certification and corporations strategic use of phrases such as “100% natural”.

    All of this being said I fear preaching to the choir. What are your thoughts readers?

    Until next time,

    Lauren

    The Ganesh Himal Trading Intern[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

  • Customer and Artisan Partner Testimonials That Make Us Happy!

     

    We wanted to share with you comments from our customers and artisans partners. We work with the best people on this planet, THANK YOU! Please feel free to post your feedback about Ganesh Himal Trading.

    “Traditions Fair Trade cherishes its relationship with Ganesh Himal. Not only have the wide range of products offered been of very high quality and appeal to our customers, but the commitment to their partnering producers in Nepal is evident from their ongoing collaborative product development, their support of the needs and social programs of those producers, and their personal connections with so many of those artisans. And we know we will always have the kind of attention and personal service from Ganesh Himal that makes it very easy to conduct business with them.” –Traditions Fair Trade

    “Ganesh Himal & Association for Craft Producers (ACP), both organizations stared business in the same year and share a strong bonding and long term partnership. ACP highly appreciates Ganesh himal’s untiring effort of promoting Nepali handmade articles for the upliftment of Nepali artisans. Ganesh Himal is one of our key partners in social development projects since the beginning and our relationship goes far beyond than just buying and selling relationships. Ganesh Himal has been actively supporting our various fair trade projects primarily Child Education Allowance. Because of support from Ganesh Himal, it has eased ACP to regularly allot a monthly allowance for up to four years to producers who keep their daughters in school. As incentive to excel, ACP supports the three most outstanding students for a fifth year. ACP has been able to play a key role in providing education to over 400 children till date. Similarly, support from Ganesh Himal has enable ACP to organize dental camp in Sindhukot among cobblers’ community. This has benefited not only ACP artisans & their families but for the entire community.” –ACP, Nepal

    “We have worked with Ganesh Himal since 1993. For seventeen years they have provided us with consistently beautiful clothing, purses, jewelry, and handcrafts. They are standard bearers of Fair Trade with their excellent merchandise, educational information, concern for their producers, and fantastic customer service.”  Thank you Ganesh Himal!! –Global Village, Billings

    “Made By Hand, a 100% Fair Trade retail store located at the shore in Delaware, has had the great pleasure to work with Ganesh Himal for 16 years. Not only are their products fantastic sellers (superb quality and great prices), the staff of Ganesh Himal are a dream to work with. They represent the best of the best in Fair Trade. Ganesh Himal truly makes the world a better place. Adelante!” –Made by Hand

    “Working with all of you at Ganesh Himal is truly a blessing! Your products are of the best quality, your price point can’t be beat and your customer service is unparalleled. All I have to do is wear one of your beautiful jackets in the shop, and I invariably sell it.” –Kizuri

    “Our experience working with Ganesh Himal Trading has been delightful. We are always impressed with the originality and quality of their products as well as their ongoing commitment to their artisans.”–Just Creations

    The variety of quality of Ganesh Himal products draws our customers back, again and again. Of nearly 30 different vendors products sold in our store, Ganesh products are the 2nd best selling! The personal care and attention given by the staff at Ganesh is equal to one!” –One World Goods

    “Ganesh Himal places orders with and receives shipments from ACP every two months. In each of these orders Ganesh Himal always try to ensure that the artisans groups have sufficient work to keep them busy covering as much product category as possible and ensuring sustainable income to the artisans. Besides, time to time visit by Denise & Ric and new product development initiation has helped ACP to obtain updated market trend and remain competitive in the market. Ganesh Himal is currently working with ACP in textile, felt, copper, ceramics, paper, knitwear & recycled items. ACP started life with 38 producers in three skill areas and five full time staff in a rented building with 4000 sq. ft area. Today ACP is providing services to over 1200 artisans (women constituting 90%) from 15 districts of Nepal in 22 skill categories. All this is possible because of strong commitment & support from fair trade organizations like Ganesh Himal. ACP team would like to thank Ganesh Himal for its sincere dedication for the promotion of fair trade for the benefit of Nepali artisans. Your support means a lot to us. We look forward to receiving continued support in future as well. Thank you! ” -Gabish at ACP

    “We love your Western Collar Men’s Shirts. The style is classic, we have half a dozen customers who collect these shirts. We kind of keep track of what colors they already have and call when a new colorway comes in! Classic style, great color and price point – AND it is hard to find great items for men!  –The Fair Trader

     

  • Artisan Partner Spotlight: Ram Devi

    As a young woman, Ram Devi had a strong desire to work to improve her family’s economic condition. Her father, struggling with a gambling addiction, mortgaged the family home and took out a loan to start a poultry farm. Unfortunately, whatever income generated from the farm he wagered away, resulting in shame and debt

    Even with their hardships, Ram Devi’s family banished the concept of her finding a job, calling it “improper” for a woman to work outside of the home. Her financial straps tightened with the addition of her children, adding to her loans and debts.

    Dismissing her family’s conservative restrictions, Ram Devi joined ACP in 1992. Initially, she made Christmas ornaments and stamped designs on pottery. After one year, ACP offered artisans training on the ceramic wheel. Ram Devi was selected and after the six month training period she mastered the skill – which, in Nepalese society, is deemed a “man’s work.”

    Breaking social stereotypes was not on Ram Devi’s agenda when joining ACP, but since her beginnings, she has been financially independent and commands respect within her home and community. With the income she’s earned, she purchased her own potters wheel and started working from home in the morning and evenings to supplement her income. The death of her husband left her the sole financial bearer of her children and father-in-law, which she attends to with her earnings from ACP. Memories haunt her of her former life in poverty — not being able to visit her sick mother because she didn’t have the bus fair, sending her children to sleep hungry — but today, she is working hard to pay off her mortgage and climb out of debt. She is hopeful for her future and the future of her children.

    Ganesh Himal Trading has carried the work of Ram Devi and other ceramics workers from ACP since 1984!