spotlight: nepal

The nonprofit organization Manushi, meaning “energetic woman,” was established in 1991 to assist poor, disadvantaged Nepali women. Located in Kathmandu, Manushi works with women in various parts of the country. The group describes itself as “action–oriented” for the empowerment of women. The organization’s goals are to promote gender perspective in sustainable development, to enhance women’s social and economic status, to put women in the forefront of human development, and to put marginalized people in the world of work through handicraft production and small businesses. In addition to craft production and marketing, Manushi conducts community development, entrepreneurship and skills training, and provides microfinance loans. Currently some 90 percent of Manushi’s artisans are women: all are from grassroots communities, some are widows, some are without family, and all are needy. Constitutionally Nepali women have rights, explains director Padmasana Shakya, but practically they have few opportunities within a culture that discriminates against women.

Manushi grew out of studies of women in Nepal done by the Center for Women in Development. Prompted by questions from the women interviewed about the studies’ benefit, Shakya, then a university economics professor, established Manushi in 1991. Manushi began its microcredit program in 1996.

spotlight: rwanda

Cards from Africa is a part of a new generation of African businesses setting a trend in our divided world. We make high quality products, made in one of the poorest countries, available to the international market at competitive prices. In return, we offer well-paid employment to those who need it the most. Furthermore, our business model is to provide a stepping-stone for our staff to transition easily to another career or start their own business someday. We are currently developing a program to effectively teach entrepreneurial, management, and practical business skills to our staff. By unleashing creativity, teaching valuable skills, and fostering self-worth, we are confident that someday they will be able to access the international market themselves and contribute to a thriving economy and better quality of life for all Rwandans.


Rwanda is known throughout the world mostly for its recent genocide and war, in which over 800,000 of Rwanda's 8,000,000 people were killed in 100 days from April to July 1994. As a result of this tragedy and the persistence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic throughout sub-Saharan Africa, an estimated 8 percent of the total population in Rwanda is orphaned. Building the economy of Rwanda requires solutions that empower this aspiring yet disadvantaged group of young men and women.

We believe sustainable business is a key ingredient to lifting Rwanda, the most densely populated African nation, out of poverty. Today, over 90% of the country is dependent on subsistence farming and pressure on the land is extreme. The vast majority of the population struggles to scratch out a meager existence and is often not able to afford the education necessary to improve their situation. Rwanda's dependence on foreign aid, an amount higher than its business earnings, is equally unsustainable. A country's inability to choose its own path of development is neither dignifying nor just.

spotlight: peru

The Emady artisan group originally included three women and has now grown to five women who have a sewing business that specializes in products made from Shipibo, a hand-painted cloth that is produced in the Peruvian jungle. Grupo Emady buys the cloth directly from Shipibo women and sews placemats, runners, purses, backpacks, napkins, vests, and other products that show off the incredible material. 

spotlight: israel.

Sindyanna of Galilee was established as a nonprofit organization in 1996 to work with the Arab population in western Galilee.  Founded and managed by women, Sindyanna’s uniqueness is that it works in partnership with Israelis and Palestinians, and that it combines commercial activity and community work.


One of Sindyanna’s primary activities is to restore and develop the Arab olive industry in Israel and secure a fair return for Arab farmers.  The income from the cultivation of olives has been a mainstay in western Galilee for centuries, but Arab farmers in Israel face many obstacles which make accessing markets and other resources they need difficult. With Sindyanna, Arab farmers are able to sell their crop under fair conditions. The other goal of Sindyanna is to provide work for women, where work opportunities are scarce.  At their warehouse, both Jewish and Arab women are in charge of labeling, packaging, and preparing products for shipping.  It is the only facility in the area that employs women.

Sindyanna’s cold-pressed organic olive oil and their traditional olive oil soap have both been best sellers for us.  We have been partnering with Sindyanna since 2003.