Crafting Amidst Conflict
Published December 29, 2008 @ 10:02AM PT
The Catholic Relief Services has a Photo of the Week series showcasing photos of the different programs they have around the world. This week's photo is a telling one especially with the current conflict going on with the Gaza Strip. It is of Palestinian craftsman, Issa Abu Atta working on an olivewood nativity at a workshop in Belt Sahour, West Bank.
The Catholic Relief Services developed the Fair Trade Fund to make high impact grants to spread the Fair Trade model. The program benefiting Issa Abu Atta in the West Bank is in partnership with the Holy Land Handicraft Cooperative Society, which was established to uplift the deteriorating local handicraft sector that was being threatened by the regional conflict.
According to the Holy Land Handicraft Cooperative Society, the struggling handicraft industry is being threatened by three things:
- constant political unrest
- the resulting decline in tourism
- more generalized economic hardship resulting from the occupation
Presently, because of the low number of pilgrims visiting the region and the very low production of handicrafts, factory owners are no longer able to secure sufficient income to support their families. Many factory owners are thinking seriously of immigrating to other countries, thus threatening the continued existence of an industry that has formed a central component of cultural and mercantile life for a millennia.
The Holy Land Handicraft Cooperative Society's mission has been to
alleviate local poverty, decrease unemployment, increase the level of income, decrease emigration, and sustain the Palestinian handicraft industry for the benefit of the traditional handicraft artisans by effectively marketing our products, making the raw materials available at a low cost, and developing [their] capabilities technically and managerially.
An important part of their business model and mission is the employment of Fair Trade standards and are also the first organization in the Arab world to qualify for membership in IFAT (International Fair Trade Asociation). Since the Cooperative's inception, over 900 individuals have benefit from the Cooperative's different programs.
Their aim to preserve a culture and heritage that has been alive since the 14h century is strong as is their hope to get past the conflict and continue their crafting.
[photos: CRS & Holy Land Handicraft Cooperative Society]
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Comments (1)
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Author
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Zarah is the Operations Manager for the Global Exchange Fair Trade Online Store, a project of the international human rights organization, Global Exchange. Alongside her work with marginalized communities from all over the world to get their products into the international market, Zarah serves to educate and inform the public about a more just and sustainable trading system.
Thanks for sharing this profile, Zarah. I just wanted to add that the Fund's resources are made possible through the contributions of our fully committee Fair Trade partners, such as SERRV. Every time a Catholic institution or individual makes a purchase through our network of more than a dozen partners, a donation is made to the Fund, which we recycle. In this way US Catholics and other socially responsible consumers are contributors to the work of the Fund and its support of groups such as CRS partner HLHCS.
Posted by Jacqueline DeCarlo on 12/30/2008 @ 06:52AM PT
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