(Anglophones, please scroll down - English version at the end)
Avant de se rendre dans le sud du Tamil Nadu, l'equipe EW passe environ une semaine a Chennai (anciennement Madras, connue pour son industrie textile), la capitale du Tamil Nadu.
L'objectif? Trouver des produits ecologiques et issus du commerce equitable que l'association pourra ensuite proposer a la vente en France et dont 100% des benefices nets seront reinvestis dans les programme EW.
La demarche a debute a Poitiers il y a plusieurs mois par une session de brainstorming qui a debouche sur l'idee suivante: des sacs en toile de jute ou en coton garnis d'epices et de recettes indiennes. Mais une fois sur le terrain, comment trouver un grossiste qui propose le bon produit a un prix raisonnable? Apres beaucoup de marche, de persistence et une chance inesperee, le probleme allait enfin se resoudre.
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| Stage de Formation - Jute - Training Session |
Suite a 2 semaines de recherches sur Internet, une liste de possibilites s'offrent a nous, mais rien de bien sur et definitif. Nous decidons donc de sauter dans un autorickshaw en direction du quartier commercial et fort anime de T Nagar a la recherche d'un des fabricants selectionne dans notre liste. Nous trouvons la bonne rue mais les numeros indiques ne sont d'aucune utilite. "Un repere? Un repere?", nous demande le chauffeur. Il nous est impossible de l'aider, ne sachant pas a cote de quoi le magasin peut bien se trouver. Nous decidons de continuer a pied et de demander aux passants, tous aidants et sympathiques. "Oui, essayez plus loin, a droite", "Tout droit, apres la grande banque", "Tout pres, tout pres, dans le meme batiment que le magasin de chaussures de sport, au sous sol". Munies de ces instructions, nous finissons par trouver le magasin du vendeur de textile que nous cherchions, mais decouvrons qu'il a change d'activite pour se specialiser dans la vente de produits ayurvediques...
Le proprietaire s'excuse pour le derangement, nous offre des boissons fraiches, saisit son portable et appelle l'un de ses contacts dans le textile sur qui il sait que nous pouvons compter. C'est a 20 minutes en autorickshaw. Nous prenons rendez-vous, sortons manger un thali indien et partons donc a la rencontre de Rajalakshmi au Jute Emporium.
Le Jute Emporium
Le magasin propose des sacs magnifiques et de bonne qualite de toutes sortes mais a des prix superieurs au budget de EW.
Ces produits sont tous de "qualite export", au tissage fin et serre. Cependant, pour le marche indien, le Jute Emporium propose aussi des modeles resistants et attractifs. Ainsi debutent les negociations. Quels modeles? Combien de pieces? Y-a-t-il des remises de gros? Une livraison au depart du port de Chennai en passant par la mer d'Arabie puis la Mediterranee via le canal de Suez? Quelles declarations en douane pour une ONG? A quel cout revient l'impression du logo EW sur le sac? Et quelle maquette?
Le mari de Rajalakshmi, Srikanth, vient discuter des details concernant la production. Il est fier d'annoncer que le Jute Emporium correspond exactement a notre demarche. En effet, le magasin est une interface commerciale a but non lucratif. Une formation aux methodes de tissage est offerte aux femmes sans ressources, et ensuite le Jute Emporium s'occupe de la distribution. Les nouveaux sacs EW seront donc tisses et cousus par les femmes intouchables des villages situes aux alentours de Pondichery au sud de Chennai.
Mais en quoi le commerce equitable est-il vraiment equitable? Le cas des nouveaux sacs EW
Certains auteurs ont exprime leur scepticisme au sujet des produits dits equitables et certaines accusations se revelent parfois assez justes. Les labels "commerce equitable" peuvent etre utilises a des fins de marketing. En reversant quelques centimes supplementaires aux producteurs du tiers monde et en jouant sur la culpabilite des consommateurs, les grands distributeurs s'enrichissent. Bien que EW soit consciente de ces critiques (cf: C. Jacquiau), nous pensons en avoir eviter les ecueils.
Grace a notre operation, nous reversons des dizaines de milliers de roupies aux communautes de tisserandes et couturieres de Pondichery et ses alentours. Dans 2 mois, les sacs EW seront en vente en France. Aucun des benefices engendres ne servira a couvrir les frais de missions, frais generaux ou salaires. Tout l'argent sera reinvesti en soutien a nos programmes: education (alphabetisation des adultes, tutorat des enfants), developpement integre et operations de microcredit, infrastructures (classes et projets de recuperation des eaux pluviales), plus de "stages verts".
Education World - en tamil "kalvi ulagam" - tient a vous exprimer sa gratitude pour votre interet et votre soutien. L'equipe se rendra dans le sud, a Palani, dans quelques jours (dans les montagnes des Ghats, au nord-ouest de Madurai).
Restez connectes et joyeux printemps!
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| First jute folders - 1ers porte-documents ! |
EW goes shopping
Before heading south for more program outreach, the EW team is currently spending about a week in Tamil Nadu's capital, Chennai (formerly Madras - famous for its textiles). The objective ? To find eco-friendly fair-trade products that the association can bring back to France for sale - with 100% of all net profits reinvested in EW programs aboad.
We began in Poitiers several months ago with a brainstorming session - which led to the idea of reusable jute or cotton bags with a gift package inside of Indian spices and recipes. But, once on the ground here, just how is it possible to track down the wholesaler with just the right product and at a reasonable price ? Lots of legwork and persistence and some Indian serendipity.
On-line research had provided a list of possibilities, but no firm feedback after 2 weeks. So we decided to head off in an auto-rickshaw to the bustling T. Nagar commercial district to track down a name at the top of our list. We found the right road but street numbers were of absolutely no use. "Landmark? Landmark?", asked our driver. We couldn't help him, not knowing what the cotton shop might be close to. So we got out and walked. Then flagged down passersby who were all helpful and friendly. "Yes, try farther down, right side !" Or "Straight on, after big bank !" "Close, close - in same complex as sports shoe place, in basement !" Armed with these instructions, we finally found the textile wholesaler place we were looking for - only to discover that it had since been turned into an ayurvedic health shop...
The proprietor apologized for the inconvenience, offered us cold sodas, got on his cell phone and contacted someone in the field he knew to be very reliable - only another 20 minutes away by auto-rickshaw. We thus made an appointment, stopped for a south Indian vegetarian thali lunch, and then headed off to meet Rajalakshmi at the Jute Emporium.
The Jute Emporium
The shop displayed rather upscale and beautiful bags of all varieties, but at prices beyond EW's budget. These products were all "export quality" - with a very fine, tight weave. However, the Emporium also serves the Indian market with sturdy and attractive models, so our negotiations began in earnest. Which models ? How many pieces ? Bulk discounts ? Shipping out of the port of Chennai, across the Arabian sea and into the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal? Customs declarations for NGOs ? Printing costs to put EW's logo on he bag ? Layout for this ?
Rajalakshmi's husband, Srikanth, came to firm up the actual production details and he was proud to announce that the Emporium 's policy was exactly on our wave-length - as the shop is a non-profit firm that acts as a commercial interface. Training is provided to destitute women in stitchery techniques and then outlets are found for their products. Thus, the new EW bags will be woven and sewn by Dalit (untouchable) women in villages around Pondichery, south of Chennai.
How Fair is Fair Trade ? EW's New Fair-Trade Bags
Some authors have expressed skepticism about alleged "fair-trade" products, and accusations can sometimes prove to be all too true. Fair-trade labels can be used as a mere marketing ploy, providing a few extra cents to third-world producers, while guilt-tripping Western consumers into conceding even higher profit margins to wealthy distributors. Although EW is aware of such criticisms (cf : C. Jacquiau), we think we have avoided the pitfalls. We are able to inject tens of thousands of rupees into communities of weavers and seamstresses in the Pondichery area. In 2 months, EW bags will go on sale in France. None of the profits will be siphoned off in mission costs or overhead or salaries. So all income generated will be reinvested in program support : educational programs (adult literacy, children's tutorials) integrated economic and microcredit operations, infrastructure (classrooms and rain-water harvesting projects), more "green workshops".
Education.World - or "Kalvi Ulagam" in Tamil - expresses its gratitude for your continuing interest and support. We'll be heading south to the Palani project in a few days (up in the Ghat Mountains, NW of Madurai). Log on soon for more details ! Best to you all and a joyous spring - EW
We began in Poitiers several months ago with a brainstorming session - which led to the idea of reusable jute or cotton bags with a gift package inside of Indian spices and recipes. But, once on the ground here, just how is it possible to track down the wholesaler with just the right product and at a reasonable price ? Lots of legwork and persistence and some Indian serendipity.
On-line research had provided a list of possibilities, but no firm feedback after 2 weeks. So we decided to head off in an auto-rickshaw to the bustling T. Nagar commercial district to track down a name at the top of our list. We found the right road but street numbers were of absolutely no use. "Landmark? Landmark?", asked our driver. We couldn't help him, not knowing what the cotton shop might be close to. So we got out and walked. Then flagged down passersby who were all helpful and friendly. "Yes, try farther down, right side !" Or "Straight on, after big bank !" "Close, close - in same complex as sports shoe place, in basement !" Armed with these instructions, we finally found the textile wholesaler place we were looking for - only to discover that it had since been turned into an ayurvedic health shop...
The proprietor apologized for the inconvenience, offered us cold sodas, got on his cell phone and contacted someone in the field he knew to be very reliable - only another 20 minutes away by auto-rickshaw. We thus made an appointment, stopped for a south Indian vegetarian thali lunch, and then headed off to meet Rajalakshmi at the Jute Emporium.
The Jute Emporium
The shop displayed rather upscale and beautiful bags of all varieties, but at prices beyond EW's budget. These products were all "export quality" - with a very fine, tight weave. However, the Emporium also serves the Indian market with sturdy and attractive models, so our negotiations began in earnest. Which models ? How many pieces ? Bulk discounts ? Shipping out of the port of Chennai, across the Arabian sea and into the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal? Customs declarations for NGOs ? Printing costs to put EW's logo on he bag ? Layout for this ?
Rajalakshmi's husband, Srikanth, came to firm up the actual production details and he was proud to announce that the Emporium 's policy was exactly on our wave-length - as the shop is a non-profit firm that acts as a commercial interface. Training is provided to destitute women in stitchery techniques and then outlets are found for their products. Thus, the new EW bags will be woven and sewn by Dalit (untouchable) women in villages around Pondichery, south of Chennai.
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| Women's self-help group and their jute products / groupe femmes et leur produits en jute |
How Fair is Fair Trade ? EW's New Fair-Trade Bags
Some authors have expressed skepticism about alleged "fair-trade" products, and accusations can sometimes prove to be all too true. Fair-trade labels can be used as a mere marketing ploy, providing a few extra cents to third-world producers, while guilt-tripping Western consumers into conceding even higher profit margins to wealthy distributors. Although EW is aware of such criticisms (cf : C. Jacquiau), we think we have avoided the pitfalls. We are able to inject tens of thousands of rupees into communities of weavers and seamstresses in the Pondichery area. In 2 months, EW bags will go on sale in France. None of the profits will be siphoned off in mission costs or overhead or salaries. So all income generated will be reinvested in program support : educational programs (adult literacy, children's tutorials) integrated economic and microcredit operations, infrastructure (classrooms and rain-water harvesting projects), more "green workshops".
Education.World - or "Kalvi Ulagam" in Tamil - expresses its gratitude for your continuing interest and support. We'll be heading south to the Palani project in a few days (up in the Ghat Mountains, NW of Madurai). Log on soon for more details ! Best to you all and a joyous spring - EW
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