Many families live in situations of desperate poverty throughout the world. Frequently, it is women and children who suffer the most. An NGO (Non Governmental Organization) report from the United Nations on the status of the girl child notes that in industrial as well as developing countries many girls do not escape the consequences of gender discrimination which often leads to early pregnancy, prostitution, homelessness and sexual harassment. Through the small efforts of Sharing Fair Europe, we, as Good Shepherd Communities and Associates, are attempting to build an international network to promote and support the efforts of women to better their economic situation. By supporting women, we support their families and communities as well.
In Thailand, well known for the sex trade industry, women in Good Shepherd programs are trained in sewing skills and given the means to generate an income from the sale of their goods. Many women at risk of becoming trapped in the sex trade find a means of economic independence through Fatima Centre where delightful toys are created and the Regina Centre located in Nong Khai. Through the Isan Weaving Project, many women in poor villages learn the ancient craft of hand weaving, making exquisite matmee fabric that is then made into various garments and bags.
In Paraguay, Good Shepherd Sisters began a project to support the work of very poor craftswomen to sell their work without a middle person. A cooperative of Weavers of Nanduti was established and now has fifty-two members. Encouraging self-reliance, mutual aid and cooperative education, while creating beautiful hand-woven goods, the women strive to better the living conditions of all its members. Indigenous women living in extreme poverty, having no land and living in huts, are artisans of beautiful hand woven goods. They are also supported by this project through the sale of their goods.
Peruvian women have formed cooperatives as well in order to support each other in creating handmade goods that can be sold. One such cooperative has established a rotating fund to provide credit to families. Bethlehem Training Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia provides training and job opportunities for over 200 women. Day care services are provided onsite so that the women can take full advantage of the services offered.
In Dong Thap, Vietnam, Good Shepherd Sisters run a training center to educate women and teach them sewing skills. They produce various articles of clothing for which they are seeking markets. They have helped women to return to their villages through the purchase of sewing machines enabling them to earn money while working at home. Otherwise, they would end up in rice fields as cheap labor. Markets are needed for their goods so that large companies that pay very little for their goods will not exploit them.
Similar projects as these in the Philippines, India, Madagascar, Indonesia, Colombia, Haiti, Chile, and Mexico are also sending us their goods.
About Us: Sharing Fair Europe is a fair trade project of Good Shepherd Sisters, an international network of Catholic women founded by St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier in 1835 and serving in 71 countries world-wide. Drawing on a spirituality of compassion and reconciliation, the Sisters and their co-workers focus on women and girls living in circumstances of extreme distress. They seek to improve their lives and enable them to live with dignity.
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Mission Development.
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for information re a
Sharing Fair Europe website
which is presently under construction.
Sharing Fair Europe is based in Amersfoort, Holland where both the central office and distribution centre are located.
Crafts can be purchased from Sr. Elise Rasch
(Director) at the following address:
Sharing Fair Europe Office
Daam Fockemalaan 22
3818 KG Amersfoort
The Netherlands
Tel: 0031 33258 3795
E-mail: ramelise@yahoo.com
