Supporting dignified employment for African Women.

Welcome to African Threads’ Fundraising Program exclusively for Grandmothers-to-Grandmothers Groups in Canada. I know there's a lot of information here, but please read through it all before placing your order, as it will answer most of your questions.

Background

I am a social entrepreneur who started African Threads in 2006 as a small import business to develop markets for African women’s crafts and provide sustainable and meaningful income flows as directly as possible to the women. I only work with groups that create economic empowerment and upliftment of women, that are sensitive to women’s social needs, and that draw on their heritage of traditional craft skills. I’m also committed to finding fine quality, marketable, craft items that will delight North Americans and form the basis for sustainable trade.

A radio talk by Stephen Lewis was a major inspiration for me to start African Threads. He galvanized me to use my passions for Africa, sustainable economic empowerment for women, marketing and fine craft to help alleviate the suffering caused by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. I give a portion of my retail profits to the Stephen Lewis Grandmothers-to-Grandmothers Campaign and I have a close affinity with a couple of Nova Scotia Grandmother’s Groups. Please browse the links above to learn more about me.

Grandmother Groups have approached me to supply fundraising items produced by women in Africa rather than buying fundraising items made in China. That has led me to develop this Grandmothers’ Fundraising Program.

African Threads offers a beautiful line of quality craft items that I know will sell well based on my retail business. I have specially priced each item at substantially below my suggested selling price so as to provide Grandmother Groups with a good return that will help meet your fundraising goals for the Stephen Lewis Foundation. At the same time, Grandmother Groups can play a key role in creating strong economic flow to women in Africa.

Your suggestions, feedback and questions are valuable and help me make African Threads a trusted source of fairly traded, women-centered crafts. I look forward to hearing from you by email or phone 902 624 8181. Please put your Grandmother Group name in the subject line of all emails.

I’m excited about offering the treasures I’ve found in Africa and look forward to working with you. Please read the Questions & Answers section below. Please also see Deadline and Ordering Details.

 
“Working with Valerie in order to select the appropriate quantity and selection of crafts for our event was amazing.  Valerie had the order filled and in the mail within one business day.  The quality of the crafts was beyond our expectation and the selection was superior. I would highly recommend Valerie’s website and give her a call.” Laurie Black Rooney:  Hearts and Hands Grandmothers Group, Fergus, Ont.
 

Questions & Answers

How does our order help women in Africa?  Buying women’s crafts for your fundraising events is a powerful and direct way to support women’s livelihoods in Africa. The craft makers are grandmothers and mothers - most of them single - with their crafts being their sole income. All live in desperately poor conditions and all are impacted by the HIV/AIDS pandemic directly or indirectly. The income generated is vital to them and their families for basic life necessities and many of the women support 10 or more people on their handwork. It’s well known that women who are economically empowered will educate and feed their families and strengthen their communities. Economically empowered women are more in control of their health and their community’s health on every level. I’ve seen many amazing instances of women gaining control in their households and communities through their stitchery.

Buying products from a variety of groups means a wide geographical spectrum of women will receive income, thus “spreading the wealth”.

The day Valerie came into our store and bought up an incredible amount of necklaces is a day no one here will forget. Valerie’s regular orders for beads allow the crafters to earn a sustainable income with most crafters supporting about 10 family members. Valerie’s requests for unusual colour combinations have helped us develop our confidence…her orders are making an incredible difference to crafters most in need.      Paula, Craft Coordinator, Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust.

What does “fair trade” mean? Fair trade is about buying goods for which the makers have been fairly paid and work in good conditions. Fair trade is about relationships and sensitivity to the maker’s production cycles and needs. I pay the craft groups up front for the work, before it’s shipped to Canada, so the women don’t wait to be paid. Since 2006 I’ve developed close working relationships and friendships with the craft groups. I’ve visited most of the craft groups I buy from in South Africa. I’ve talked with the women and the group coordinators to make sure each group is run to benefit the makers and that they are paid fairly.

Fair trade also means I don’t negotiate to achieve rock bottom prices and instead, pay what is asked by the group. The very nature of my social enterprise is to seek out crafts from women who are well paid for quality work. African Threads seeks to develop sustainable economic relationships that support women’s livelihoods. I’ve found that when we see very cheap crafts from the Third World, we know a woman was exploited.

How are the craft groups in Africa run?  The groups I work with encompass various models: upliftment groups, income generation projects, AIDS Centers, social entrepreneurial businesses, and small sewing circles. Each is caring and ethical and has fair and dignifed income generation for the women as a central goal. The groups provide strong social support as well, and the craft groups are vital to the women’s lives. My relationships with the groups date back 6 to 2 years. African Threads is the major customer for many of the craft groups and is an economic life line for many women.

Every group is set up differently in how they pay the women, but one thing is certain: the makers are all well paid for their work, some earning up to 80% of the cost of goods. Craft making is the sole income for all the artisans and truly keeps them and their families going. It is not overstating it to say buying their crafts keeps them alive. The groups develop craft items that are based on indigenous and endemic skills such as basket weaving, beading and embroidery. Making and selling crafts is a powerful way for the women to feel validated and self esteem soars when they ship goods to Canada. Please read more about the groups on my web site under The Makers link where you’ll find photos, videos and details.

Where do the crafts come from? Currently, I work with South Africa because I was born there and have strong working relationships and a good working knowledge of the country’s tribal groups. The craft groups are from KwaZulu Natal, Limpopo Province, Eastern Cape, Gauteng and KwaNdebele. Some are in sprawling urban townships near Durban and Johannesburg, some in small towns and many in rural homesteads. For all of them, these crafts are their only income in a country with staggering unemployment and a crushing AIDS rate. I hope to expand my line of goods to Botswana and other countries in Africa.

What about new items? Items in this Grandmothers Fundraising Program will be expanded and changed periodically. Please check back to watch for new items or, even better, subscribe to the RSS feed link above to get automatic notifications when new items are added. Also, be sure to sign up for the African Threads newsletter and blog.

Does African Threads make a donation to the SLF? Yes, African Threads donates 15% of its profits on retail sales to SLF. See Giving Back at the top of this page.  Due to the special price structure on these discounted items for the Grandmothers Fundraising Program, I am passing this donation opportunity on to your Group. Thus, African Threads won’t make an additional donation to the SLF based on orders at these special fundraising rates. However, African Threads continues to make its SLF donation based on retail sales.

Who is Valerie? I’ve been a textile artist and quilter for 40 years. I’ve written two books on quilting and have taught quilting internationally, including Japan, Germany and the UK. I was born a 5^th generation South African and, when I was 23, moved to live in the North West Territories then Labrador. I spent 4 years working with Labrador artisans developing markets and quality products. After moving to Nova Scotia in 1980, I developed my own line of fabric craft items for sale at craft fairs, which I continued for 6 years. Find out more about me at www.valeriehearder.com and by reading the Home page above.

What service is African Threads providing?

• I seek out quality, marketable craft items, often working with the craft group to suggest changes to help make the item more marketable. I test the goods in the market place and establish price points for suggested retail price.
• I work with the craft group discussing timelines and quantities they can produce to meet demand.
• Where Grandmothers Groups are not permitted to deal with African groups directly, African Threads can fill that role.
• I manage your Grandmother Group’s order, international banking transfers and importation of the goods.
• Your order will be packed and shipped from my address in Nova Scotia when they arrive from Africa.
• I’ll send marketing and display tips and, where possible, information cards about each item or group.
• If you have an event on short notice, I will try to provide you with products to sell from the inventory I carry for my retail sales.
• New craft items will be added frequently for a beautiful and varied line-up to choose from in various price ranges.
• I am committed to excellent service for your Grandmother Group and to the women in Africa.

Ordering Deadlines and Details

Register your Grandmother Group: First, please create an account with African Threads in order to get log in access to the listing of goods. Click the link at the top right of this page and create your account. When you register, please list the Chairperson of your group as the secondary contact.

Deadlines:

20th  March to receive your goods for events in July, August, September.
1^st June to receive goods for events in October, November and December.

1st October  to receive goods for events in January, February and March.

15th January  to receive goods for events in April, May and June.

Many of the African craft groups require at least 4 months to produce goods and some need longer. Airmail from Africa takes between 3 and 6 weeks. It is not unreasonable to place your order 6months ahead of your event. The more lead-time on orders, the better for everyone. Please discuss special time lines and event dates with me. While I cannot guarantee delivery dates, I’ll make every effort to get products to you in time for planned events. Occasionally there may be delays due to life circumstances such as illness or funerals - a reality of working in Africa. Please bear in mind that goods arrive from different parts of the country at different times. I’ll wait until all parts of your order are landed before shipping your order.

Note: I often have goods on hand and may be able to supply your Group on shorter notice, depending on my stock. Email your requests to me.

Shipping and handling: Shipping is via ground by Canada Post in Canada. Rush orders can be shipped by Express Post for an additional cost.

Payment: Payment is made at the time of check out in the on-line store using Pay Pal and shortly I’ll be accepting credit cards as well. However, if this doesn’t work for your group, we can make other arrangements. Please contact me directly to discuss this.

Suggested Retail: Staying with the suggested retail price keeps pricing consistent with African Threads’ retail prices and other Grandmothers’ Groups. I request that you do not sell for less than the suggested retail price, however, you are welcome to charge a higher price at your discretion, thus earning your Group a higher fund raising total.

Current Prices: The discounted prices listed on the web site for the Grandmothers Fundraising Program are the current prices. Prices are subject to change without notice.

Refunds:Should a craft group in Africa be unable to fill your order, you will be refunded accordingly.

Checklist for Placing Your order

• View the catalog of goods and prices and order online.
• Enter your order following the minimum quantities stated.
• Minimum total order $700 for all goods combined.
• $25 shipping & handling is added. Orders over $1,000 are shipped free.
• Your provincial GST or HST is automatically added.
  
• My HST Registration # is 85964 5350 RT0001, for your reference.
  
• Include: Name of your Grandmother Group, contact person’s name, address, and phone number. A second contact person must be listed.
• Date of your event. Very important that I know when the goods are needed.
• Please use your Grandmothers Group name in the subject line of all your email correspondence.

Grandmothers of Africa Tee shirts: Email me to request the special tee shirt order form and fill it out separately. Note: Ordering and shipping is processed separately from any other orders. Tee shirts can be ordered any time of the year as they are always in stock.

"They really do go out of their way when they know their artworks are being sent to the 'Grandmothers' organization in Canada.   While working on these embroideries during  March/April it became hugely evident that their self-esteem got a boost because they knew that their work would be  appreciated internationally.  The women normally do freelance work for craft - fairs so  the guarenteed  income from you and yours, so far from South Africa, is obviously also an incentive. This definately makes them innovative and motivates them to uphold their reputation concerning their skill and artistry." Celia, Co-ordinator for Intuthuko Sewing Group, Etwatwa Township. SA