At church we had heard from two members of Northcote Baptist who had recently been to South Asia helping out at a fair trade enterprise set up by New Zealand couple Kerry and Annie. As well as promoting the enterprise’s philosophy, they were also selling the wares so carefully sewn by the ladies employed there.

This business offers alternative ethical employment to women trapped in the sex trade in a notorious red light district. Most of these women were sold or forced into prostitution by trafficking or poverty; the business offers an opportunity to change their lives.

 

They are taught to sew jute bags of various designs and shapes, and more recently organic cotton T-shirts that are sold around the world.

Initially 20 women and now nearly 200 women have joined the enterprise, sewing 200,000 bags each year.

Kerry says that most businesses look for the best workers and pay them the lowest rates, but they take in those most in need, train them and pay them well above the going market rate. All profits benefit the women themselves directly and are used to grow the business so more women can be employed and given a chance to leave the sex trade behind them.

This year, with help from supporters from many countries, they are expanding the premises so more women can be offered a chance for freedom. Later this year a group from our own church is travelling there for 10 days to volunteer their time.

Kerry and Annie’s dream is that some day the most infamous sex district in their South Asian megacity will become a safe community that respects the dignity of women and offers new opportunities to them and their children.

We can help them achieve that goal simply by buying their beautiful merchandise. To purchase products, go to marketplacers.co.nz, the New Zealand distributors.

– Fran Pardon