Manos Unidas Baskets are Shipping Out!

Manos Unidas por la Mujer is one PEACE's four principal programs. It empowers women to move toward financial independence by providing business resources, education and training. Through the Manos Unidas program, local women learn how to make different handicrafts, which are then purchased by PEACE and other wholesale clients to be sold to the tourist market at small stores and kiosks in the area and through the online webstore.

This "Fair Trade" concept proposes that when purchasing any product, we should think about the people behind the creation. In the global market place, the person making or creating the products are typically the ones that make the least amount of money. Fair trade in action makes sure the persons making the products receive a FAIR percentage of the finished product, sometimes referred to as a "living wage", and it changes from country to country. Fair trade can only be practiced when the consumer chooses to purchase products made and traded under this philosophy. It ensures that the person making or creating the products receives a fair percentage of the total of which the product is sold commercially. The goals of the Fair Trade philosophy are a) to create sustainable income for the creators and manufacturers of products; b) establish a fair or "living" wage; c) establish and maintain continuous cooperation with the producers and manufacturers for the buying and selling of their goods; and d) to create new markets for goods marketed under the Fair Trade philosophy.

PEACE has been working closely with several local businesses who provide Manos Unidas products in the stores, boutiques, restaurants, etc. to sell to their customers. In addition, we are also working on getting these products exported to the US and Canada.

Our first large order will be shipped out next week. We have teamed up with Fair Indigo and will begin working closely with them in custom-made products so that they can distribute them through their website, which also promotes Fair Trade and artisans from around the world. The women of Manos Unidas have created over 100 woven baskets using recycled newspapers for this order. We hope this is the first of many orders that we will be doing with Fair Indigo and other companies like them.

Thank you Rebecca and Children Inspire Design for their collaboration on this project!

If you, or anyone you know, are interested in hosting a PEACE party with Manos Unidas products, distributing Manos Unidas products in their businesses or boutiques, or sponsoring a woman of the coop, please contact us via their website at Manos Unidas. For information on selling Manos Unidas products, please contact Emily L'Hoist at emily@peacemexico.org.