Thursday, August 28, 2008

THE SEWING MACHINE PROJECT



Global Daughter aims to provide women artisans the best opportunities to be creative and productive. That is why we have initiated a project that will supply the women of Janakpur Arts and Crafts Center with a brand new sewing machine. Half of the proceeds from the new "I want to be a Global Daughter" shopping bag will go to a fund to purchase a modern sewing machine for the women's workshop in Janakpur, Nepal.

They currently have 3 dinosaur-old second hand machines, two of which need to be repaired. The Center does not have the money to repair the old ones or buy a new one. This has effected production volume and that effects the women's income. A new sewing machine not only creates more opportunities for the women artisans, it also contributes to the growth and potential of the Center. And that is what we want to see with all our producers. We want to invest in their lives and establish long term relationships.

One quality sewing machine can make a big difference to women artisans whose livelihoods are connected to their handicrafts. So, join the project, pick up a Global Daughter cotton shopping bag at the next house party or wait to purchase when our online boutique is launched in September!



A bag that tells a story......

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

A POWERFUL VOICE, 88 years later













.

In celebration of 88 years of the women's vote in America, we observe the strength and courage of those that spoke out on behalf of generations of women, past and future. It is a powerful thing, the voice of a woman. Imagine a woman's movement with a collective voice, now that can change history....

Thank you for leading the way.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Parties! Parties! Parties!




Global Daughter has been partying for Fair Trade like crazy. August parties kicked off in Kirkland with Global Sister Brianna throwing the biggest party yet. The women really loved the silver earrings, the new Cleopatra Malla necklaces, and the original nettle and cotton cushion covers.

Global Mothers Paula and Deborah also threw two very successful parties. Guests learned more about Nepal and fair trade principles as they gathered to shop and share together. At these parties the highlight was the launch of our new cotton shopping bag- Proceeds from the new "I want to be a Global Daughter" bag go to our new Sewing Machine Project.


We are looking forward to our next party on Sunday as well as the parties coming up in September. We are booking up fast, so if you are interested in hosting a party in September in the Seattle area, you can contact Erika at erika@globaldaughter.com



Devi modeling the Beautiful Cleo Malla Necklace handmade by Urmilla and Roma


Let the Shopping Begin!


Get Informed


Signing the Guestbook and Checking out the GD Albums


Why fair trade?


Jewelry, Jewelry, Jewelry!


Paula's Home was Perfect!


The New GD Bags are Here. Let's Support the Sewing Project!

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Pride Parade!


Pride Parade!

In a place like Nepal, you wouldn't expect Kathmandu to be so cool about having a gay pride festival...but they were! We had two hours of undisturbed marching and whimsy before the police came in to break everything up...You know those lady boys can get rowdy!



Temples and Rainbow flags...welcome to it.


Rickshaw floats (aka third world floats)


Lady boys looking fabulous!


Pride has a name....Stu.

Even transgender cows were represented

Those signs say, "Proud to be an entertainment worker."

Fierce.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Meet Sweta..and little Shreeshyam









Sweta just started working with Global Daughter. She lives in the basement of the owner of Janakpur Arts and Crafts (our main producer). She is 27 years old with one child, the sweetest thing in the world, Shreeshyam. Shreeshyam enjoys cheese balls and likes to help mom stitch, but because he is underage and GD follows fair trade practices, we will hold off on hiring him full time! Sweta is in a love marriage with a man from a caste that her parents find "less desirable," so that is why they live seperate from their families (this is rare in Nepal). While her husband is at work, she sews and stitches GD's cushion covers and curtains; most recently she has been working on our new "i am a global daughter" cotton shopping bag. She can sew on a button faster than the best! She is a quick learner and eager to use her time home alone with Shreeshyam in a fruitful way.

Again, seeing everything produced from start to finish is so thrilling. Meeting the women (and their little ones) is the most rewarding part of the process. All of these women are mothers first, so if they can work in the comfort of their home while caring for their children, they are more productive, more independent and happier.

Enjoy your "i am a global daughter" cotton shopping bag, thanks Sweta!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Stories from the Village

Just when you think you have heard it all....
This guy decides to sell his wife and son for $176. For the price of a microwave, would you sell your family?


Cop Sells Wife, Son

BAITADI, Aug 11 - One Keshav Nath of Mahendranagar-9, Kanchanpur district allegedly sold his wife and five-year-old son to an elderly man. Keshav, a Nepal Police constable posted at Surkhet, reached an agreement with Gangadutta Nath, 65, of Gokuleshwor-7 of Baitadi, allowing the latter to marry his wife, Mina.

The unbelievable episode unfolded as Mina's uncle lodged a complaint at the District Police Office (DPO) demanding justice for the "sold woman."

Local people said Keshav and his uncle, Mansingh, set off for Gokuleswor with their game plan with Mina and the son, Himamshu, five days ago. However, Mina, 25, was totally unaware of the plan.

"He took me to Gokuleshwor saying that he was recently transferred there," said Mina. "He told me that he would come back after making a telephone call. But he never returned," she added.

The DPO said that the police have started investigations over the incident after taking Gangadutta and Mina into custody. But the person at the center of the bizarre episode, Keshav, is still at large.

Locals said Keshav received 12,000 rupees ( $176.00) from Gangadutta on the condition of leaving his wife with him. Gangadutta refuted the allegation. He, however, admitted that he paid 10,000 rupees as bus fare and hotel expenses for the whole episode.

It is learnt that Keshav had married another woman in Nepalgunj recently. While Gangadutta, father of seven daughters, is known to have been in search of a second wife, longing for a son.

In villages across Nepal, girls are put in a cow shed during their first period for 12 days. They are thought to be unclean in the Hindu religion. They can not come in contact with anyone (especially men) or touch anyone, especially other's food. Women giving birth are also held in a cow shed during the birth of their child and 13 days after. They must not come in contact with the father of the child or go outside the shed.

Chhaupadi Kills Teenager

DOTI, Aug 11 - The traditional practice of keeping girls and women in chau goath (a cow shed) during menstruation and delivery has killed a 15-year-old girl here in a remote village of the district.

Rekha Damai, 15 of Mudegaun VDC - 6, died at chhau goath. The Chhaupadi practice is rampant in the far western region. When Damai was sleeping alone in the goath, she suffered from diarrhea. As there was no one to take her to a health post located at an hour's distance from her home, Damai fought the disease all alone till she died the same night.

"From whom would I seek help, she was having her monthly period," sobbed Tana Damai, the deceased girl's mother. "We hadn't thought she would die the same night."

Tana said her husband was also suffering from diarrhea and she was unable to seek help from other people. The girl had eaten carcass meat during day time. Other people of the same Dalit community who also suffered from diarrhea due to consumption of the same carcass have been cured as they received treatment on time.

Sita Chopada, president of Mahila Jagaran Nepal said women who stay in chhau goath have even faced rape. Similarly, women have been bitten by snakes and suffered other reproductive health related problems.

Although the government has already abolished the practice following the Supreme Court's order, it has continued in the far western region.

www.kantipuronline.com

Wednesday, August 6, 2008