This article originates from Cultural Cloth, by Angie Brown. Sometimes in the past we would meet artisans who made beautiful handmade weavings or amazingly detailed embroideries but they did not have the resources to take these handmade pieces and make them into pillows and home décor that we could sell in our shop. They didn’t […]
The Board of the UPAVIM Community Development Foundation (UCDF) came together for its annual meeting on May 21st and 22nd. Our dedicated board members lived in 8 different states and 3 different countries at the time of our meeting. We have increased that with the happy addition of new members since the meeting. You can […]
Good things comes in small packages, and GREAT things come in ITTY BITTY packages! The recent move of the UPAVIM Crafts warehouse from Maryland to the spa and art vacation town of Berkeley Springs, WV, afforded the opportunity for a small retail site … thus the Itty Bitty Global Gift Shop was born. As late […]
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We have exciting news to share with you! As spring comes upon us, UPAVIM Crafts will be heading for the hills of West Virginia!! Our US Distribution Center will be moving from Ijamsville, MD to Berkeley Springs, WV.
Source: Fair Trade Winds Fair Trade Winds is a family-run retail store with seven locations across the country. We offer certified fair trade and environmentally sustainable products supporting artisans, farmers, and craftspeople from all over the globe. Facts about Women’s Rights Women bear the responsibility of collecting water for their families, and can spend up […]
When a Peace Corps volunteer returns from spending two years working overseas with counterparts struggling to earn a sustainable living, it’s not uncommon for the RPCV to end up involved in Fair Trade. Source: The Path Often Traveled – Why Returned Peace Corps Volunteers Find Fair Trade Mary Joan Ferrara set off for Botswana […]
Meet Cristi This month we invite you to meet Cristi, part of UPAVIM’s bakery team. She also works in the crafts program making UPAVIM’s handmade products and is now learning how to sew. Cristi is a woman with a heart of gold and she wears a smile from ear to ear at all times. She […]
With tears in her eyes, Lili smiled and said, “UPAVIM is nothing less than a second home for me and for my children”.
At UPAVIM, we strongly support the use of volunteers in the non-profit industry. We never support the exploitation of workers (paid or unpaid.) Ideally, as our business grows, we will be able to continue to hire more employees and help contribute to the local economy, as well as that of La Esperanza. As members of the Fair Trade Federation, we are vigorously screened for our commitments to Fair Trade.