More Co-op Links:

Craft cooperatives are a world-wide phenomena! Check out some of these other sites to see how you can help.

Cambodia:

    Khemara House is an NGO-assisted retail outlet where staff are trained in running a retail outlet and are prepared for setting up and running their own small scale business in Phnom Penh. This outlet is not only a successful training center in providing women with marketable business skills, but a living cultural museum where traditional methods of Cambodian silk growing, weaving, natural dyeing methods are revived.
http://www.cambodia.org/org/khemara

Central America:

    The Institute for Economic Justice and Indigenous Technologies supports grassroots community based economic development projects. They work in partnership with the indigenous people of Central America, specifically, artisans in El Salvador, Ecuador, and Guatemala  to help them create a better life for themselves and their communities. They purchase only from indigenous people that have organized at the grassroots level and are committed to returning at least 65% of your purchase to the artisan group.
http://www.efn.org/~iejit

Nepal:

    The Nepalese Chautara Women's Handicraft Cooperative was formed to provide training in the spinning, weaving, and knitting of angora wool for socially and economically deprived women. They too are attempting to enter the international market and sustain their communities through free enterprise.
http://www.rabbitweb.net/Chautara.htm

Nicaragua:

    The Farabundo Marti y Sandino Handweaving Cooperative was established and abandoned by the UN in a 5 year timeline,  but now it's thriving.
http://www.mcn.org/b/lolli/nica.html

Thailand:

    The Appropriate Technology Association initiated a "Local Weaving Development Project" aimed at
empowering the rural women of a region of Thailand. They wrote "Weaving for Alternatives!".
http://iisd1.iisd.ca/50comm/commdb/list/c15.htm

U.S.A:

    @GRASS-ROOTS.ORG tells the stories of some of the most innovative grassroots programs in the U.S. who've found effective ways to build their communities, fix what's broken and make them better  - the InDios weaving cooperative is one example.
http://www.grass-roots.org/usa/indios.shtml

    Wicahpi Vision Arts Cooperative is another @GRASS-ROOTS.ORG-lauded organization; this one was  founded by Loretta Afraid to assist the Pine Ridge Reservation.
http://www.grass-roots.org/usa/chadron.shtml

Fair Trade Links

    Fair Trade, as defined by IFAT,  is an alternative approach to conventional international trade. It is a trading partnership which aims at sustainable development for excluded and disadvantaged producers. It seeks to do this by providing better trading conditions, by awareness raising and by campaigning. Here are some links to orgs working for fair trade:

Co-ops galore
    This is the co-op database of your dreams! It gives detailed information about the ideals behind co-ops, issues co-ops struggle with, and examples of co-ops all around the globe.
http://www.coop.org

The Fair Trade Federation
    The Fair Trade Federation (FTF) is an association of fair trade wholesalers, retailers, and producers whose members are committed to providing fair wages and good employment opportunities to economically disadvantaged artisans and farmers worldwide. FTF directly links low-income producers with consumer markets and educates consumers about the importance of purchasing fairly traded products which support living wages and safe and healthy conditions for workers in the Third World. FTF also acts as a clearinghouse for information on fair trade and provides resources and networking opportunities for its members.
http://www.fairtradefederation.com/index.html

IFAT
    IFAT is the International Federation for Alternative Trade, a global network of 142 Fair Trade organisations in 47 countries, which works to improve the livelihoods and well-being of disadvantaged people in developing countries and to change the unfair structures of international trade.
http://www.ifat.org

Peacecraft
    Peacecraft, an Albuquerque-based business with a nice name, works with local cooperative organizations all around the world whose mission is to build sustainable trade for the community. They sell crafts from co-ops in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Mexico, and India.
http://www.peacecraft.org/pc

References

How to contact us for more information or to place orders:
Prae Pan's Office and Shop
131/193 Chatapadung Rd., Amphur Muang
Khon Kaen, Thailand, 40000
Tel and Fax (043) 337-216
 

Members of The Northeastern Handicraft and Women's Development Network:
1.  Local Weaving Development Project
2.  Handicraft Center for Northeastern Women's Development
3.  NET Foundation (NETCRAFT)
4.  Northeastern Traditional Weaving Project
5.  MANA Group
6.  Siwilai Samakkai Craft
7.  Sustainable Community Development Project through Improve Quality of Life
8.  Sustainable Agricultural Development for Self Reliance Project
9.  Suwannapoom Women's Development Project
10. GRID Foundation
11. Non-Farm Activities Development (NAD-RDI)
12. CARE International in Thailand, Ubon Ratchathani
13. Project for Rural Ecological Development
14. Friend of  Women (Amnartcharoen Group)
15. Nam Phong Watershed Ecological Recovery Project
16. Term Moon Project
17. The Impact of Dan Chongmek Development Project
18. Naisda Villagers Group
19. Friend of Women Foundation
20. Foster Parents Plan International - Wapeepatum