TACOMA, Washington — As COVID-19 continues to attack the world, many businesses have laid off employees or lost the majority of their customers. The tourism industry faces large crashes in the market, derailing the income of people relying on the money of tourists. Even with COVID-19, people who usually are unemployed because of their background, health, etc., face a larger burden. Whether that be affected by tourism or unable to become employed, there are several companies hiring people in need, providing an outlet to escape the cycle of poverty. Showing how important it is to continue to support brands hiring people in need.
Pura Vida Bracelets
Pura Vida is a California based bracelet and jewelry company supporting local Costa Rican artisans. In most cases, the bracelets each have a different charitable cause, including saving the ocean, protecting the trees, wildlife preservation, cancer research, etc. Pura Vida donates around $2.4 million (USD) to 175 different charities annually. In addition, they started employing artisans from El Salvador and India, expanding their company.
Beaver Creek Candle Company
In 2019, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that only 19.3% of disabled people are employed, contrasted to 66.3% of non-disabled people. Beaver Creek Candle Company hires developmentally disabled workers to handcraft their candles. This provides jobs for inspiring people who lack an income and bring joy amongst the employees.
Indego Africa
Indego Africa is a sustainable company partnering with over 1,200 African women artisans. They invest in the education of women and children. All of the craftsmanship comes from years of inherited tradition, creating meticulous handmade accents, baskets and bags.
Hiptipico
An ethical fashion brand, Hiptipico spotlights the craftsmanship of Maya artisans in Guatemala. According to the World Bank, in Guatemala, the majority of the 8 million Mayans reside in poverty. Using traditional methods of weaving, embroidery and looming, 100% of products are handmade in the comfort of the artisans’ homes. In addition to providing incomes to artisans, Hiptipico also funds education, healthcare, and emergency services to alleviate poverty in small communities. Hiptico is just another example of brands hiring people in need.
Global Goods Partner
Global Goods Partner (GGP) is an international marketplace of handmade goods by women of over 20 countries around the world. Women have to support their families and this organization allows them to do so. From jewelry to room decorations and kid’s toys, GGP has affordable yet high-quality products made by hand. Buying a gift contributes to helping a woman and her family rise above poverty.
Ten Thousand Villages
Like Global Goods Partner, Ten Thousand Villages is an online store carrying crafts of all kinds made around the world. This company partnered up with over 20,000 makers in over 30 developing countries, in the hopes of severing the poverty cycle.
House of Light Goods
In 2019, Mexico had one of the highest murder rates the country has seen — an average of 95 murders a day. Due to the high crime rates and absent fathers, mothers have to support their children alone, working long hours for minimum wage, leaving children to become victims of sexual abuse, child trafficking, substance use, hunger, etc. The House of Light Goods sells necklaces and scarves to provide both financial support for independent mothers and building a childcare center for the people in Primo Tapia, Mexico.
Gift of Hope Haiti
Gift of Hope is an environmentally conscious fashion brand paying three times the minimum wage to around 70 artisans in order to lift families out of poverty. They partnered with Haiti Foundation Against Poverty to decrease the 59% poverty rate. Using only sustainable materials like recycled bottle caps or eco-friendly textiles, Gift of Hope is helping one community at a time.
Supporting these brands hiring people in need could make a difference in the lives of thousands of people. The featured companies positively impact the alleviation of global poverty, aligning with the values of The Borgen Project.
– Zoe Chao
Photo: Flickr