Local Challenges in a Global Market

A seemingly common and mundane, but really very interesting thing happened on my first day of volunteering.  I thought it said a lot about the challenges these woman face trying to run a business in a global market, and I immediately knew it was the first thing I wanted to share on my blog with regards to this volunteer program.

I was sent along with a member of the Global Mamas team to pick up calico (one of the first things I learned about batiking - calico is cotton cloth that has been bleached and ready for them to use).  They had ordered several rolls of calico and were able to pick up some the week before, but the whole order wasn't there so we went back to pick up the rest.  By luck we did get the rest but were informed the price went up...again (it had also gone up the week before).  There is a world cotton crisis which is not only driving up prices but potentially making the calico unavailable altogether.

If this were to happen, the batikers' business would be in serious jeopardy.  These women have small businesses with no financial means to float a few months waiting for calico.  However, with an organization like Global Mamas behind them, their prospects are better.  The funds raised with the help of many of you can help organizations like this provide infrastructure, micro-lending, or buying power to assist getting over these hurdles.

Fast forward a couple weeks, a lot of calico has been secured to ensure the women can continue batiking and earning a living for the next few months.  I think you can connect the dots and see the cycle that has just been completed with the help of many.

...More to come soon on the great things happening here!

-Charlotte