Shop your values/Act for Change

Challenges Entered:

Visitors to the GGP site will interact with a dynamic ecommerce environment that is informative and encourages shoppers to support our global partners through their purchase and through additional forms of advocacy. We envision an interactive map on the GGP site that displays where products are from and links to both narrative and multimedia (photo/video/audio) information on the communities across the global south in which GGP partners; grassroots women leaders in these communities who are models of social change; the environmental and social impact of product purchases; cultural/artistic significance of the craft; economic, social and political challenges that our overseas partners face; and direct links to opportunities to take action on these issues. We would also like the site to include RSS feeds from partner nonprofit and media organizations as well as user generated content. GGP views the product we sell as a vehicle for social change in the US as well as the developing world, communicating a message of human rights, community development, and responsible consumption to consumers while highlighting the grassroots leaders around the world who are inspirational models of social change. We want our US partners to understand the positive impact that comes from purchasing products made by our global partners as one piece in a larger framework of social change from responsible consumption to activism and advocacy.

What else have you done in this area of work?

GGPâ€™s founders have worked for over two decades in the international development field with organizations across the global south on issues ranging from child labor to disaster relief. In the last several years, many of these organizations began supporting or establishing womenâ€™s cooperatives, providing training and support to women craft producers looking for new ways to earn income. These CBOs also offer healthcare, education, and a variety of other services in the communities, making a real, measurable impact. Building on the important work of development organizations that support these income generation projects, GGP founders determined that an effective way to support these artisans would be to open new markets in the US for their products, thus increasing artisan incomes while raising awareness of their work. GGP team members also have significant experience in human rights advocacy, fair trade, and global justice education. Bios available at globalgoodspartners.org/team

Project Details

Project url:

http://www.globalgoodspartners.org

Project video:

Supporting organization:

Global Goods Partners

Project Assessment

Financial support:

Project has financial support

Project goals:

Objective: Global Goods Partners (GGP) provides a direct link between our community partners in the global south and consumers in the US. We want our US partners (particularly youth) to understand the positive impact that comes from purchasing products made by our global partners as one effort in a larger framework of social change that includes responsible consumption, community development, activism and advocacy. The product we sell is a vehicle for social change, communicating a message of human rights, community development, and responsible consumption to consumers while highlighting the grassroots leaders who are inspirational models of social change. This project will help us to communicate this message clearly and provide direct links to opportunities for action.Mission: GGP is a nonprofit dedicated to alleviating poverty and promoting social justice by strengthening women-led development initiatives for marginalized communities in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. GGP pursues this mission by partnering with community based organizations (CBOs), cooperatives and social enterprises that integrate their commitment to community developmentâ€”improvements in education, health, women's rights, food security, and employment opportunitiesâ€”with socially responsible income-generating programs that adhear to Fair Trade standards. GGP provides its partners with direct access to new markets in the US, increasing their revenue and raising awareness of their work. GGP uses proceeds from product sales to provide technical assistance and grant support to its partners, assisting them in building stronger, more effective programs, with the goal of achieving financial sustainability.GGP: Puts money directly into the hands of women in oppressive circumstances, enabling them to support their families and take greater control of their livesSupports human rights initiatives for the worlds most vulnerable communities Encourages the use of natural and locally sourced materials in production, promoting development that considers the environment and preserves traditional designPromotes awareness and activism amongst US consumers, encouraging active participation in global issues that generates further advancements for our partners communities

Identified Obstacles:

GGP is seeking both technical expertise and additional financial resources to fully realize this project. GGP is in the initial phases of a website redesign. The organization has committed financial resources to this project but will need additional support to bring its full creative vision to fruition. We welcome your input in this process. Thanks!

Location

New York, NY

United States

See map: Google Maps

Submitted by Tali on February 29, 2008 - 1:57pm

Purchasing Durable Goods

Submitted by Jacob A on March 29, 2009 - 10:08pm.

Thank you for sharing this project! I'm very pleased here with the recent steps the federal government has taken to heal the economic crises. The people can indeed help in uplifting the nation against global economic meltdowns by being responsible and wise consumers. As we've seen nowadays, The purchases of durable goods are increasing. Durable goods are items that do not wear out or expire in the short term, such as a car, a TV, or a refrigerator. (Durable goods respond to normal laws of supply and demand.) A payday loan would not, therefore be an example of a durable good but it is a good service when needed. Stock markets, especially the Dow Jones, have been starting to hike back up after the Federal Reserve announced it would purchase an enormous raft (up to over $1 Trillion if necessary) in Treasury Securities. Since the financial system isn't trustworthy, it's no wonder more people are buying durable goods.