KAREN FRIEND'S DOLLS

Karen Friends Doll

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: THAILAND-BURMA BORDER

Ni Ler Ah Gay! Good Day! This adorable Burmese doll, with her charming yarn pigtails, rosy cheeks and hand-embroidered dress, is made by Karen refugees living in camps across the Thai border. The Karen are a Burmese ethnic group who have suffered persecution for many years, and have been forced to flee until peace and security returns to their home. For each Karen doll sold, a "friend" is given to a child living in the refugee camps.

11" tall

CRAFTED BY WOMEN'S EDUCATION FOR ADVANCEMENT AND EMPOWERMENT

Women's Education for Advancement and Empowerment (WEAVE), formed in 1990, is a community-based organization that empowers women through health education, literacy, income generation, and human rights and leadership training. WEAVE programs address the needs of Karen and Karenni women in the Mae Sot and Mae Sariang refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border who have fled from persecution by the Burmese military regime..

Employment opportunities in refugee camps are scarce, particularly for women. WEAVE's income generation program provides these women with the training to further develop their craft skills and to generate critical income for the health and education needs of their families. As a member of the Fair Trade Federation, WEAVE helps market traditional Burmese embroidery and weaving at a price that ensures fair wages for refugee women. In addition, WEAVE's Women Capacity Development project promotes women-led project management so that participants learn self-sufficiency and economic independence.

Fair Trade Products: Global Goods Partners