GOODWEAVE

…Because the choices we make matter….

 

One of my main priorities when I first began my research was to select weavers who were registered members of Goodweave. My designs would not come to life were it not for the skills and expertise applied by them to every rug. They are as much a part of the creative process as I am. For this reason a percentage of every dollar spent producing each carpet goes to the continued support of Goodweave.

 

“It takes thousands of knots to make a beautiful rug. And another one to make sure a child didn’t weave it.The GoodWeave TM label is your assurance that a rug is child-labor-free.”

 

GoodWeave is a global non-profit organisation working to stamp out illegal child labour in the hand-made rug industry of South Asia. Hundreds of thousands of children are illegally employed within the handmade rug industry.When you buy a GoodWeave certified rug, you know it is made on a loom that is independently monitored to ensure that only adult artisans crafted it – and every GoodWeave purchase helps get kids off looms and into schools.

 

What is Child labour?
Not every child who works is a child labourer. In Asia as in other parts of the world children work in the home or help their parents in the fields etc.

 

Child work becomes child labour when:

  • Children below 14 years of age are doing full time work.
  • Children do work that is harmful and dangerous to their mental, physical and social development.
  • Children do not go to school because of the work that they do.
  • Children have no time for rest, relaxation and play which are the natural rights of all children.
  • Children are exploited whether physically, mentally, sexually and emotionally.
  • Children are employed in wage payment.

 

A CHILD LABOURER IS A CHILD WHO HAS HAD NO CHILDHOOD, AND WILL HAVE NO REAL WORTHWHILE AND FULFILLING FUTURE

 

Rug producers, traders and exporters who want to use the GoodWeave label sign written agreements accepting the following four conditions:

  • not to employ children under 14
  • to allow unannounced, random inspections by GoodWeave inspectors
  • to notify GoodWeave of all sales of labelled carpets

 

Each rug is individually numbered, enabling its origin to be traced back to the loom where it was produced. Only licensed importers can sell GoodWeave labelled rugs. They pay a licence fee which funds the GoodWeave social welfare programme for former child weavers and their communities.

 

 

How much of a difference is GoodWeave making?
Over 6 million rugs bearing the RugMark and GoodWeave labels have been sold to date in Europe and North America. This has enabled GoodWeave to free more than 3,000 child workers from the misery of under-age employment, and deter thousands more from entering the factories. With the funds gained from our importers’ licence fees, GoodWeave are able to run welfare programmes including schools and rehabilitation centres in India and Nepal for former carpet children. Here, they receive a proper schooling – for many this is the first time they have had any education.

 

Thank you for supporting us. With your help, under-age carpet weavers have the chance to be children once again and the opportunity to move towards a hopeful future.
Education breaks the poverty cycle.

 

To find out more, visit www.GoodWeave.org