Letters from Renu and the WFN staff . . .

A diary of social work in Nepal . . . February 22, 2008

The Letters from Renu on these pages detail an ongoing saga of abuse. WARNING: these letters have graphic descriptions which may be disturbing. These are stories of real people in terrible trouble. The good news is that there are many individuals who are working to set the world right in Nepal. WFN is one of the groups seeing to it that something is being done to help.

Applying for the "Fair Trade" designation and having volunteers would be good . . .

Dear Brian,
It is so very good to received your email. We would like to thank you very much for thinking of us so deeply, giving good advice with new ideas. Your advice is are very important for us to continue our work.

Please do not feel pressure to provide us support. We are working since 19 years. It is difficult but we can handle the situation. Maybe we have to closed some project.

To continue the shelter is very urgent and important, as well as legal support, so we will work hard to keep the project going. Your ideas are very good, practical.

About fair trade. We are giving our producers a fair salary. If we will have any profit, we will divide it in three ways. The producer will get 20% of the profit,  20% we will use for administration, and 60% of the profit will go to run the shelter of WF.

In our last order we made 20 thousand and  16 pieces silk scarf. That order we delivered on 10th of January. 

When the producers (weavers) shared the profit they said they felt, for the first time in their life, that they were the owner of the production. They are the owners of the company. They went to there homes and came next day and shared their happiness telling us they did not said to their family, "This is profit." Instead they said, “ WE GOT A PRIZE FROM OUR WORK” Because they felt they were given an award!

If some fair trade groups are interested to support us by buying the products of WFN, it would be very good. Or if there is any cooperative which is selling a cooperative product it would also be very good. The second idea, to find a person who  will be very useful for us is also good.

Brian, now I have only two munites to send the email because the electricity will be cut off soon. So I send only this today.

Many greetings
Renu