Three weeks left in Morocco and I have a final request for all of you lovely and dedicated blog followers: one click to help Mushmina, a fair trade company based in Philadelphia, secure a $25,000 small business grant. Mushmina works with women artisans here in Morocco, so by helping them develop and expand their reach, more women here in Morocco will be benefited. I know, this sounds a little too simple to be true. And I feel ya– if i’ve learned anything in 2.5 years in Morocco, it’s that nothing is that easy. But this time it really is!
A returned Peace Corps volunteer from Morocco, Heather, started a business with her sister Katie. Inspired by the artisans Heather worked with here (sound familiar?) and the sisters’ travels across the globe, they formed Mushmina. This fair trade company works directly with artisans to create absolutely beautiful, unique, and hip accessories and clothing. They’re very involved in the creation process; Heather actually lives here in Morocco and meets with individual artisans as well as collectives to source, design, and get to know the creators. This year, they opened the Flying Camel Women’s Training Center in Oued Zem. This center provides literacy classes as well as design basics for aspiring women artisans.
Heather has been a spectacular help in my general futz-ing around with the artisans here in Tameslouht. Mushmina has sourced several handira pillows and blankets from the women here, always with saint-like patience and understanding regarding the flexibility of deadlines. Additionally, Heather helped out at the artisans’ summer camp a few months ago. She and Kenza, a lovely artisan from Oued Zem, led a session with our campers about finding creative inspiration. They then led an activity where each girl wrote the things that identify her. It was a wonderful experience– Heather and Kenza really make a great team!
So now it’s our turn to help out Mushmina. They are in the running for a $25,000 small business grant from FedEx. Heather and Katie would use this money for the following:
We want to share our adventures and the impact of fair trade purchasing with an even broader audience by bringing our stories and vibrant products to our customers in our mobile Moroccan Caravan! We are in the process of transforming a 1974 VW Westfalia camper bus into a traveling boutique and advertisement of the work we do. Our vision is to drive our line of global handmade goods across the USA to connect with new customers and to create awareness of the importance of buying fair trade.
In order to win the grant, they need your vote! It’s really simple: just click this link, select “Mushmina”, and vote. You can vote once a day, every day, through February 23rd. Please vote, and please share with your family, friends, co-workers, and facebook community. It’s seriously that easy, and it’s totally that worth it. Thank you and chokran jezilan!
