About Handmade 4 Freedom
Between 2010 and 2013, I was studying and teaching in Chiang Mai, Thailand. At the same time I was helping a couple of fair trade non-profit organizations by scouting out people and products. The goal of these organizations is to create jobs for women and men who are disadvantaged, so these organizations wanted to buy products from people who were in extreme need of help.
They support safe houses and educations for children and orphans. It is easy to see that the assistance these organizations provide means a lot to the people served. These are the people who have really inspired me to start Handmade4Freedom:
1.1 People who make quality handmade products but don’t know where to sell
1.2 People who have limited job skills and no opportunity for formal education
1.3 Children, orphans, widows, single-parents, and homeless people
1.4 Refugees and immigrants and others who are at a disadvantage for finding steady work.
2. The purpose of Handmade 4 Freedom
2.1 To free people from poverty and the risk of human trafficking.
2.2 Providing for, supporting, and sending children and orphans to safe houses with loving dorm parents, and sending the children to school.
2.3 Sending adults to job training centers for 3-5 months at a time, so they can find jobs to live on and support their families and churches.
2.4 Seeking to strengthen believers and share the Gospel to the unsaved.
2.5 Working with churches, organizations and governments.
3. What kinds of fair trade products, and from where?
3.1 Hats (from Lisu villagers)
3.2 Bags (from Thai people and villagers)
3.3 Bracelets, friendship bands, fine beads, silver, and pearls (from tribal people, refugees)
3.4 Christmas ornaments, cards, door hangers, and angels (from women affected by HIV/AIDS)
3.5 Cushion covers (Thai and Hmong tribe)
3.6 Jewelry (Thai and tribal)
3.7 Hair ties (from single parents, refugees, university students)
3.8 Key chains (from single parents, refugees, university students)
3.9 Rings (Thai and villagers)
Our products are quality-made by men and women who have been well trained and experienced. They are eager to work and do their best on each piece. Most products are from Northern Thailand, refugees, and maybe soon from Myanmar (Burma).
us by purchasing our products to create more jobs for these people.
