Swallows, Bangladesh
Swallows is based in a remote rural village that was devastated in 1971 when all the adult males were massacred during the war of Independence. These men were the family breadwinners and in a society where the women cooked and the men earned for the family, it was a total disaster.
Swallows was set up to provide opportunities for these women who suddenly found that they were the head of the household. Usually in Bangladesh weaving is usually considered a 'man's job', but at Swallows women have learnt to do everything for themselves; weaving, dyeing, making and embroidering the garments.
The organisation now provides employment and training for over 200 women, and alongside its initial objective of providing employment it has developed a number of community programmes.
One of the first was a local primary school that is attended by 600 children. It also runs programs that address the many problems faced by rural communities. These include the problem of domestic violence, the trafficking of young women that are too poor to marry and the lack of education for women.
Guinea, a Swallows' producer feels that discrimination and lack of opportunity for women in Bangladesh are the biggest barriers to improving living conditions there. But she says:
"The Fair Trade principles applied by People Tree have created economic stability for Swallows, allowing it to become an independent organisation, this has led to the empowerment of the women of Thanapara."
So when you next look at one of People Tree's beautiful handwoven pieces, the chances are that it came from Swallows and it has provided Guinea or a woman like her with an income and hope for the future.
