Our passion for this project began when Crystal was researching human rights issues in areas like the Congo. After much research and discussion, we felt that the only way to build a bridge out of poverty is through sustainable business opportunities. A nation can’t fully recover when they are dependent on non-profits and foreign aid. In a nutshell, we are traveling to some of the most remote place
s on earth to find artisans that have a marketable trade, but lack the ability to get their products into the global market place. We will pay these artists fair wages for their work, which, in most cases, will be significantly higher than what they would make trying to sell their products locally. We believe that if you start by changing the way of life for an individual, the next step is changing the face of their community. We are going to send 5% of the profit back to the artist and allocate another 5% to a micro-grant fund (as opposed to micro-loans, which can be difficult to repay). The micro-grant fund will sponsor potential businesses for other artists or craftsmen. They can apply for the grant, and if they are selected we will purchase the materials they need to start their business. For the first year, we would establish a small board of directors for their new business to ensure their success. It would be a significant boost to the quality of life for all the people involved. Our first destination is Northern India, with an excursion into Nepal. We are talking with Impulse Asia about a possible partnership to buy hand-woven fabrics from women and girls rescued from human trafficking. We are also discussing a partnership with Oceanswatch to purchase products from remote villages in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, where 80% of the people are unemployed. Once we have a good selection, we will market our products toward fair trade stores in the U.S. as well as operate an on-line store. We already have a handful of vendors interested in working with us.