Nurturing a New Partnership in the West Bank

Early in the morning, before the heat of the day sets in, women from the Ein El-Sultan refugee camp come to their center near Jericho to mix couscous. Ein El-Sultan, the smallest refugee camp in the West Bank, is home to about 2,000 people. The camp lacks basic infrastructure like paved roads and sewers and—as is the case in the rest of the area—faces severe water restrictions. The refugees are dependent on food rations and international aid. Families living in West Bank refugee camps are among the Middle East’s most marginalized people.

A group of women in the camp had an idea that would not only improve their own lives and those of their families, but would also give them greater independence. They wanted to start a cooperative to make couscous. Cooperative member Zahra Abu Shrar explained, “Unemployment is very high and we can’t always depend on our husbands. Sometimes they have work, and sometimes they don’t. We want to be able to contribute.”

Not having the resources to carry out their plan, the women approached SERRV’s partner the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC).

(continued on page 2)

As a mission-driven organization, SERRV works

in areas of the world where poverty has

a foothold—where families don’t have

money for food and basic health care,

where children are unable to attend

school because they lack the money

for fees, and where parents need work

to retain their dignity and pride. At

our core, we are an organization set on

eradicating poverty wherever it resides.

–Cheryl Musch Director of International Development

S P R I N G 2 0 1 0a nonp ro f i t o rgan i za t i on

Nepal: U.S. Market Training and Product DevelopmentThanks to a grant from The West Foundation, SERRV was able to provide a two-day training to members of Fair Trade Group Nepal. Trainer Colvin English and 30+ participants explored the U.S. market and buyers; sustainable and green markets; web-based marketing and international trade shows; and product line creation. Following the training, Colvin spent 2-3 days with each of our Nepali partners developing products for SERRV. Milan Dev Bhattarai from our partner Get Paper Industry said, “The workshop and design development went very well for us. We learnt some strategic ways for marketing along with the product development in the workshop… The program was as good as the last programs organized by SERRV.”

Ghana: Training to Improve Basket Makers’ SkillsThrough donations to SERRV’s Plant a Seed Project for Ghana, Trade Aid Integrated has funds to conduct two trainings by master basket weavers. The master weavers will train the Zaare, Dulugu and Sumbrungu groups in two hands-on sessions. Having Ghanaian master weavers conduct the training facilitates skill-building that ripples through these communities.

US: Fair Trade Futures ConferenceOn September 10-12, 2010, the Fair Trade Futures Conference will take place in Boston. The conference is expected to be the largest fair trade gathering ever held in the U.S., where people will come to learn and build relationships in the fair trade community. SERRV is providing leadership and financial support to help with the conference and to strengthen the fair trade movement in the U.S. For more information, or to register to attend, visit http://fairtradeconference.ning.com.

(continued from page 1) PARC saw the women’s determination and—since they work in rural development and women’s empowerment—an opportunity to work together. PARC provided logistical support, and the Ein El-Sultan Women Cooperative for Couscous Processing was born.

The women in the cooperative have a strong commitment to the project. Helen Abu Al-Haija, one of the cooperative’s founders, said, “This is our initiative. We care about it, and cannot imagine doing anything else.”

And so the women have come to their center for three years now to mix, steam cook, and solar dry traditional Palestinian couscous, a grain-like pasta

made from coarsely ground durum wheat.

The women all agree that since they started the cooperative, their lives have improved dramatically. Helen, who was born in the refugee camp 28 years ago, shares that her husband used to be the only income earner in their family of five. His work was irregular, and they had barely enough to survive. Their home was old and needed repairs. Through the cooperative, Helen began to earn a stable income, and she and her husband were able to fix the floors, ceilings, doors, and windows of their home. They were also able to get a loan from the bank in order to buy a taxi, which gives her husband steady work. Nearly everyone in the cooperative has a similar story to tell. And in addition to the concrete benefits, their self confidence and social status has also grown.

The benefits of starting the cooperative rippled to farmers as well. The wheat used for the couscous is sourced from a fair trade wheat cooperative in Jenin. According to Helen, “If it weren’t for the fair trade farmers, we wouldn’t have this job.”

Other farmers near Jenin who grow Om Al-Fahem Almonds also benefit from working with PARC, as do farmers in the Jordan Valley who produce juicy Medjoul Dates.

Find PARC couscous and other foods on page 16 of the SERRV Spring/Summer 2010 Catalog.

Planting a Seed for Change in CambodiaLike other 20-year-olds, Chhoy Chanavy wants to go to college. She has lived with her grandmother since she was five, and her family does not have money for her ongoing education.

Through SERRV’s partner VillageWorks in Cambodia, Chhloy found an avenue to learn to sew and to earn an income from that work. For three months, she received a place to stay, a food allowance, and training that put the tools for change into her hands. Her training and the sewing machine she now uses were provided through SERRV’s Plant a Seed Project.

Donations received through this project give Chhoy and others like her what they need to break the cycle of poverty. For Chhoy, this opportunity is life changing. She says, “I hope I can learn to sew and save the money I make to go to study in the university.”

VillageWorks is committed to improving the lives of women and girls. With Chhoy’s training, they are expanding their work to reach more women and help them realize their potential.

You too can plant a seed in the life of an artisan or farmer and put the tools for change into their hands. A donation to any of SERRV’s Plant a Seed Projects has a real impact on real people.

“This organization... cares about people”SERRV works with organizations worldwide that show a commitment to social change. We are proud to have a partnership here in the U.S. with The Enterprising Kitchen (TEK), a Chicago-based nonprofit social enterprise.

The women at TEK make bath products, including body oils, soaps, and lotions. That may sound like a basic operation until you learn about the impact it has on the lives of women.

TEK hires women who are living in poverty—many of them homeless and staying at shelters—and offers them the opportunity of a lifetime. Not only do they learn valuable job skills, they also have access to financial advice, tutoring, health screening, computer training, and more. TEK’s aim is to help women transition into sustainable employment.

Arzu Eren shares her story, “I am from Turkey, where I was a pharmacist. After I married, I moved to the U.S. I needed to leave my husband so I lived in a shelter for two years. I was homeless and couldn’t speak English. That shelter introduced me to TEK.

With my chemist background I became in charge of soap making. I create all of the soaps, including new scents, and also make sure the quality is maintained. It is fun to create new things. I have done every job at TEK, including door-to-door sales. I started here 7 years ago and have watched it grow.

I love it at TEK. I love the environment. The first thought here is not about money, it’s about us. For me, what is important is health, happiness, then money, in that order.

I could earn more as a pharmacist but money isn’t the important thing. This organization is a nonprofit and cares about people. I am valued, I like this mission. This place has to stand. This place is kind of our home.”

Find TEK products on page 21 of the SERRV Spring/Summer 2010 catalog.

MANY WAYS TO SERRVBUY

ENRICHMENT FOR ALL WITH EVERY PURCHASE ONLINE OR IN OUR CATALOG

SELL PRODUCTS IN YOUR RETAIL STORE

OR HOST A SALE IN YOUR COMMUNITY

LEND* YOUR SAVINGS AND SEE YOUR MONEY GROW (AN ARTISAN)

DONATE** YOUR MONEY TO TRAIN AND ASSIST

VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME AND SKILLS WHEREVER YOU ARE

*Investments are only offered by prospectus and available in those states where allowed by law. Please contact us for more information. **SERRV is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

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From left: Gisele Fleurant, Director of CAH, a metal artisan, and a stone carver working in Haiti

[ ]O U R M I S S I O Nto eradicate poverty wherever it resides

www.serrv.org1.800.423.0071

Following the January 12 earthquake in Haiti, SERRV mobilized to provide support for artisans whose homes and workshops collapsed. After international relief agencies provide emergency assistance with health services, food, and water, artisans still need to rebuild their lives. SERRV is working with our long-time partner Comite Artisanal Haitien (CAH) to secure and deliver the building materials and tools the artisans need for their homes and to continue their work. Gisele Fleurant, the Director of CAH, said, “Thanks to you all for your messages of solidarity and hope. I will transmit that to all the artisans. Be sure that this will be a big help in our recovery process.”

You can support these efforts by purchasing handcrafts from Haiti (online and on page 53 of the SERRV Spring/Summer 2010 Catalog). This will allow us to place new orders that provide income to artisans and their families. Also consider a tax-deductible donation for rebuilding in Haiti at www.serrv.org/donate, or send a check today in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.