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In This Issue
Exciting things have been happening in Dharmapuri, India! This month we highlight the incredible work and progress being achieved within the southern state of Tamil Nadu by our Alliance Partners VIA Design and Mahalir Aran Trust. It is a story of increased impact and continued dedication to creating work with dignity and status for rural south Indian women.
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Big Steps in Small Villages - Dharmapuri, India
In the Dharmapuri District of Tamil Nadu in southern India, ZOË Alliance is working with two incredible organizations, Mahalir Aran Trust (MAT), lead by Mercy Abraham Imondi, and VIA Design lead by Janet Rogers.
For the past few years, the Flowering Desert Production Unit of MAT has been producing quality textile based products. The women who are working have been given valuable training by VIA Design and upon graduation, are gifted with a sewing machine and a pair of scissors. This is very significant because this enables them to continue to work and create income should they marry and move to another village.
This model has been so powerful and well received that on September 23rd, 2009 it was duplicated! That day, a new centre in neighbouring Krishnagiri was opened with the help of VIA Design and MAT. This new tailoring and training centre will employ 25 women and extend the opportunity in for work in the region.
With 10 sewing machines from Flowering Desert and one supervisor travelling out 1 day per week to help, this new centre began working on projects on October 1st. This is a fantastic achievement. The women are very proud of their accomplishments and are eager to work.
The women at the Flowering Desert produced the limited edition Nambikai Throw, the first item made for the ZOË Alliance collection. As we look to future products and projects, it is exciting to see the multiplication envisioned by this regenerative business model of micro-enterprise development begin so soon. With 84% of those who are unemployed in India living in the villages, this is an effective way create steady and profitable ongoing business and employment opportunities in the villages.
Congratulations to Mercy, Janet and your teams. We'll keep working at our end to send more business your way!
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India - A Country of Contrasts
A Primer on India
Many of us are familiar with the opportunity of India as one of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China). The sheer magnitude of their market size creates an environment of enormous potential.
However, India is a country of great contrasts. Despite its status as one of the fastest growing economies, there remains a widening economic disparity.
Its sheer size is somewhat at the root of the issue from a human perspective. According to the World Statesmen online encyclopaedia, there are just over 1.1 billion people living in India. This represents 16% of the total world population of 6.8 billion people.
Placed in this context, it is a little easier to comprehend the reality that 40% of the world's poor and 1/3 of the world's malnourished children live in India. There can be no doubt that this is a very significant portion of the challenge we face globally to help break the cycle of poverty. |
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Product Spotlight - Nambikai Throw (Limited Edition)
(Nambikai is Tamil for hopes and dreams)
The number in this series of 500 is stitched in the corner of each throw alongside the symbol representing the woman who made it.
Hand crafted by the women in the rural regions of Dharmapuri, India, this luxurious silk and cotton throw makes a beautiful accent piece and adds grace to any home. An excellent gift, this item ships with a card that tells the story of hope and helps fund the development of a medical clinic.
Shipments arrive 5 - 7 days after order placement in Canada and the US
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Take the ZOË Challenge
Spread the Word - Empower People for Life
The ZOË Challenge is our chance to make a huge difference with small decisions.
Here is the challenge - go to the challenge page on our website and:
- Commit to buying a fair trade product this year (from any reputable vendor)
- Ask 3 friends to do the same
That's it! If we all did this, our collective purchases would funnel millions of dollars into the creation of jobs with dignity in developing nations.
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What's New
It's in! Next month's issue will highlight our friends in Guatemala, and this month we are excited to say our first shipment from Guatemala is here. Everyone who sees one wants one. It is a beautiful hand stitched leather portfolio available in black and brown. Each one comes with a standard 9 ½" x 7 7/16" writing notebook included.
Quantities for this fall are limited. Please contact us directly for your order and stay tuned to learn about Raul and the team in Lake Amatitlàn, Guatamala next month.
(Advance orders with custom debossing for your company's event or promotional needs can be placed with a 6 - 8 week lead time for delivery.)
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News
 We would like to extend an enthusiastic congratulations to our newest Alliance Change Partner - Stories from Our Black Books. Stories has gone beyond taking the challenge and has decided to help transform a village with their very own product made by a ZOË Alliance Village Business Partner.
Stories from Our Black Books has partnered with ZOË Alliance to bring to you the Vida Pendant. Vida is the Spanish word for life, and each one breathes life and hope into the rural community of Lake Amatitlán, Guatemala, providing employment for 5 women who carefully hand craft each unique piece.
Stories will donate a portion of the sales of each pendant to CH Global, our local development partner in Guatemala, to provide start up packages for women graduates of the technical training centre in Lake Amatitlàn in an effort to build the economy and break the cycle of poverty.
 Each Vida pendant is handcrafted of the finest materials of pure Guatemalan Jade, sterling silver and braided leather combined to create a beautifully designed and unique piece that will bring fun and flair to any occasion.
More information about how your company can partner with ZOË Alliance to transform villages can be found at ZOË Corporate Solutions. Contact us if you would like to investigate becoming an Alliance Change Partner through a private labeled product offering. |
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About ZOË Alliance
ZOË Alliance Inc. is a social enterprise that harnesses what we spend to help developing nations break the cycle of poverty.
ZOË Alliance helps people and companies transform impoverished villages with their regular purchases. We stretch each dollar spent on a personal or corporate gift three ways: to purchase a gift that tells the story of hope; to create jobs with dignity in villages; and to donate funds toward a school or village project.
We also help companies link their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives to the bottom line by making it easy to source high quality, profitable products from producer groups in villages around the globe
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Contact Us
ZOE Alliance Inc
15-75 Bayly Street West
Suite 279
Ajax, ON Canada
L1S 7K7
Tel: (647) 477-4377
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