About Worldstock

There are artisans around the world who create exquisite handcrafted items. Because they are small-lot producers, they have difficulty accessing the U.S market in this age of mass distribution. The expense of transferring their goods from remote villages would create an unaffordable price for consumers. In 2001, we realized the potential of combining forces with these artisans; and thus, Worldstock Fair Trade was born.

The purpose of Worldstock Fair Trade is not to make money, but to create thousands (someday millions) of jobs for artisans in the most destitute regions of the world. All net profits from Worldstock Fair Trade are donated to fund philanthropic projects in several countries, including Guatemala, Kenya, Malawi, and Nepal.

Our mission is to provide customers with small-lot produced goods at an affordable price. By doing so, we locate products made by craftswomen and craftsmen from around the world. We emphasize sustainability, choosing environmentally friendly products that won't burn up natural or human resources. We strive to provide our customers with exclusive products, including handcrafted clothing, jewelry, ceramics, furniture, and much more.

Worldstock, making a world of difference.

Casa Del Ninos

Our involvement has helped the construction of an earthbag house, rainwater harvesting tanks (to provide clean water to the orphans), and a composting toilet and shower unit. This project is located in the small town of San Marcos, Guatemala.

Infrastructure:

• Completed (as of April 2010)
• Main building/kitchen
• Including stoves, fridge, cabinets, and countertops
• Dormitories
• Space for 16 students
• Five more bunk-beds needed
• Four shelves needed
• Composting latrines and showers (grey water system)
• Includes a separate compost shed
• Two 20,000-liter rainwater capture tanks
• Caretaker's room
• Solar electricity system -- the dorm and the caretaker's room, plus the paths have light already!

Projects Underway

• Guest house (Earthbag and plastic bottle construction) - currently under construction
• Building will consist of bedrooms, kitchen, and a second-story work area.
• A future 40,000-liter water tank will be partly submerged next to the house, and provide a footing for a veranda to the house.
• Chicken coop - currently under construction

Projects Pending

• Permaculture fish pond
• Clinic - pending funds
• Fencing - pending funds
• Garage - pending but a high priority for security of the campus vehicle and tools

Goals:

• Provide shelter, food, clothing, education, and access to healthcare for up to 16 abandoned children
• Develop small businesses associated with the campus that will help reduce the need for outside funding
• Maintaining an environmentally healthy campus

More about the project

Project Field Supervisor: Benjamin Odera

The site sits on a former pineapple plantation on a main road just outside the village of Independencia. There is a school within walking distance, and a small creek cuts across the property in the middle. There are also three beautiful rivers right in front of the property, across the road.

Income generating programs

• Guest house hospitality training
• Pineapples from the original plantation
• Chicken farming
• Fish farming
• Surplus vegetables from permaculture
• Staff
• Project Field Director: Benjamin (Banze) Odera
• Caretakers: Juan Carlos and Nivea
• Agricultural manager: Milton from Kenya

Malawi Children's Village

Worldstock has helped with the building of a fishing farm and water harvesting tanks (which provide clean water to the orphans).

Because of years of mismanagement and lax fishing laws, fish stocks in Lake Malawi have reached the point of near collapse - threatening an important source of food for Malawi. Additional crisis of drought, malaria, and one of the highest rates of AIDS in Africa, are creating critical food instability for the 2nd poorest country in the world. In response, Solace has created a fish-breeding program to produce baby fish, or "fingerlings" to supply regional fish farmers with stock for "fattening" into fish for market.

In 2006 Ayub Azizi brought his family from Afghanistan to Malawi to manage this program. As in Afghanistan, Ayub proved a tireless and reliable manager. He has overseen the development of a fully functioning fish farm in a region where previous attempts funded with millions of dollars in foreign aid, have failed.

The ponds were finally completed in late 2007. In March of 2009, Solace negotiated a contract with the NGO C-Fish to supply 500,000 fingerlings for the fish farmers in the region. The amount was reached by calculating funding the salaries and operating costs of the Mangochi Fish Farm for 15 months. This contract is worth $35,000.