January 01, 2014 Photo Gallery
Bitter Chocolate
The cocoa trade of Ivory Coast is mired in the exploitation of children, war and corrupt profits for Ivorian officials and western big chocolate business.
GoodWeave works to end child labor and trafficking in the rug industry and to replicate its market-based approach in other sectors. By building both the supply of and demand for child-labor-free rugs, GoodWeave has catalyzed a profound shift in the marketplace. Since GoodWeave's founding, more than 12 million certified carpets have been sold in markets across the world, and the number of children trapped in exploitative carpet-making work has dropped from one million to 200,000.
When the devastating earthquakes decimated entire regions of Nepal on April 25 and May 12, 2015, they threatened the country’s carpet industry – one of its top economic sectors – and put children at greater risk of exploitation. Nine thousand people lost their lives, hundreds of thousands were left homeless, 32,000 classrooms were destroyed and nearly one million children were out of school. Damage to business infrastructure in the affected districts meant that many companies struggled to simply reopen their doors, and thus employment opportunities for workers desperate to rebuild their lives were few and far between. Many weaving families returned to home villages to find their houses completely destroyed, and have not been able to afford to rebuild them. Without good choices and facing debt, families have been increasingly forced to take dangerous risks that could lead to exploitation or worse.
In the aftermath of the earthquakes, GoodWeave provided critical relief to its community of former child laborers, vulnerable carpet weaving families and the carpet industry – meeting urgent needs for food, water, medical care and shelter. Ongoing work to assist carpet factories build back their infrastructure in a more worker-friendly, seismically-sound way, as well as to support housing and educational support for affected communities in the districts of Sindhupalchowk and Dolakha is underway. All of this work helps to stabilize vulnerable communities, strengthen the rug industry and protect children – in-line with GoodWeave’s mission to end child labor.
The following photos illustrate how GoodWeave is helping weavers and their families along the path to recovery.
The first 7.8 magnitude earthquake on April 25, 2015 left Bimal’s combined home and factory building with significant cracks. The second earthquake 16 days later brought it tumbling down. All the looms, raw materials and finished rugs inside were destroyed, and Bimal and his family were left with nothing. GoodWeave staff spent the days after the earthquakes working tirelessly to deliver urgent relief supplies to more than 5,000 weavers and family members at 274 factories.
©Katha Haru, courtesy of GoodWeave International
With rubble of her grandfather’s factory in the background, Bimal's granddaughter smiled for the camera as a GoodWeave team visited and assessed damages.
©Katha Haru, courtesy of GoodWeave International
GoodWeave provided support to factory owners who experienced the most severe damage to their facilities in order to assist them in purchasing equipment needed to return to full production. Many factories in Nepal are still only in partial production due to damaged facilities, worker housing, raw materials and equipment.
©Katha Haru, courtesy of GoodWeave International
The GoodWeave team visited Som Bahadur in his makeshift tent where he lives with his wife and three young children. After the earthquakes, they rented a room in the city, but because of all the aftershocks, they found it hard to summon the courage to sleep inside. They set up tents along with several other families of weavers from the destroyed factory, which GoodWeave has supported to re-establish operations.
©Katha Haru, courtesy of GoodWeave International
GoodWeave International’s Executive Director, Nina Smith, was a part of the team that visited Som and his family. After her visit, Smith reflected, “I walked into the tent that is now Som’s temporary home, and I saw a sarong stretched into a makeshift cradle with a baby inside. The air was heavy and damp, as monsoon rains have already begun.”
©Katha Haru, courtesy of GoodWeave International
Further scattering of carpet weavers – some to home villages, others migrating to the Middle East for work – has caused a dearth of adult labor and created conditions for more children to be trafficked to fill empty looms. GoodWeave estimates that 15% of weavers still have not returned to work. Buyers have begun moving to other export markets, leaving a gaping hole in the Nepalese economy. In the aftermath of this disaster, GoodWeave’s ongoing inspections play an even more important role in ensuring that children are protected and receiving education.
©Katha Haru, courtesy of GoodWeave International
GoodWeave is expanding its Weaving Opportunities program, which provides women with skill-based employment and enables them to support their families. This program helps to create a trained adult weaving workforce, ensuring that children do not fill the void on the looms and allowing Nepalese rugs to retain their place in the world’s market.
©Katha Haru, courtesy of GoodWeave International
At just 13 years old, Hari was taken to a carpet factory where he was forced to work 16 hours a day to pay off his family’s debt. GoodWeave inspectors found him and brought him to Hamro Ghar (Our Home), GoodWeave’s transit home for rescued children in Nepal, where he now holds a pencil instead of a tool.
©Katha Haru, courtesy of GoodWeave International
Sumitra was forced to drop out of school and weave carpets in a factory until a GoodWeave inspector brought her to Hamro Ghar – where she and 39 other former child laborers stayed safe during the earthquake. Today, she is back in the classroom – and dreams of one day becoming a nurse.
©Katha Haru, courtesy of GoodWeave International
Reflecting on the months since the earthquake, a respected GoodWeave-licensed exporter, Bala Ram Gurung, said, “Stability has been dismantled.” Given the challenging environment, the children at GoodWeave’s Hamro Ghar facility in the Kathmandu Valley are remarkably resilient.
©Katha Haru, courtesy of GoodWeave International
Rajiv beams in the classroom one month after the second quake hit. He was brought to Kathmandu by a labor broker and forced to work 19 hours a day in a carpet factory. At Hamro Ghar, Rajiv enjoys studying and dancing, and although he was fearful at first, he has realized that he doesn’t have to be afraid anymore.
©Katha Haru, courtesy of GoodWeave International
Akash was rescued by GoodWeave from a carpet factory in Nepal and came to Hamro Ghar as a young boy. He is now 17 and often visits his former home to help younger children with their schoolwork and provide mentorship. Akash recently passed his school leaving certificate and plans to study hospitality.
©Katha Haru, courtesy of GoodWeave International
Maya (L) and Sanju (R) are both former child laborers who were rescued from carpet factories by GoodWeave inspectors. The two girls became best friends at Hamro Ghar and now attend the Lab School, one of Kathmandu’s most prestigious boarding schools, with GoodWeave’s support. Previously, Sanju had been reunited with her family, but the earthquakes destroyed her school and made it impossible to continue her studies. Sanju’s parents sent her to the only other home she’s ever known – Hamro Ghar, where the two girls shared a sweet reunion. Amidst disaster, GoodWeave has helped Sanju and many others to find safety, stability and a bright future.
©Katha Haru, courtesy of GoodWeave International
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