By Ashley St. Michel
Staff Writer
    Many times when people purchase crafts the product's origin is of little concern to the consumer. The First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church (FPUU) of Kennebunk is working to change that. The church has teamed up with Global Goods Partners (GGP), a nonprofit organization, to initiate a socially responsible and educational fundraising program.
    The program works with economically unstable community based organizations (CBO’s) around the world, which produce handcrafted products according to fair trade principles. Once the products are sold through the GGP Web site, the church gets a portion of the money to help fund educational programs and the rest goes back into the communities.   
    “We were looking for a fundraiser for religious educational programs in church,” Kathy LeBrun, religious education committee member said. “We were looking for something that made sense globally.”
    According to their Web site, GGP’s mission is to help alleviate poverty and promote social justice by strengthening women-led development initiatives for communities in Asia, Africa and the Americas.
    LeBrun said Global Goods partners with organizations, associations and cooperatives worldwide that combine a commitment to community development with socially responsible income-generating projects.
    “They promote development in education, health, women’s rights and employment opportunities,” LeBrun said. “They have a strong background in women’s rights especially.”  
    “We decided to get involved because what we want to do here is support people who are trying to build up their own communities,” Tracy Ericson, director of religious education, said.
    LeBrun said GGP provides gifts and other crafty items available for purchase on their Web site. First Parish Unitarian Universalist church will get 20 percent of each purchase while the rest of the proceeds will be reinvested into the communities where the items were made. From there, LeBrun said GGP provides grants for technical assistance and business expertise, as well as for strengthening social programs for women craft workers.
    “It (GGP) awards capacity-building grants,” LeBrun said. “The grants go back into these communities to help them to develop economically.”
    “It’s a project that gives people an opportunity to purchase items that directly support people in other countries,” Ericson said. “Our (FPUU) principles promote peace and justice for all people.”
    LeBrun said FPUU has done fundraisers similar to this one in the past, but “this one is different because it is a fundraiser for us, as well as other people in the community and around the world.” She said this fundraiser seemed like the perfect match.
    LeBrun said the proceeds of the fundraiser will go back into communities such as Afghanistan, Cambodia, Argentina and Columbia. She said that the program is aimed to promote awareness and connection to communities around the world.
    “They make the products, Global Goods posts them on their Web site for purchase and when their products are purchased, Global Goods gives them the money,” she said. “Everything is handmade by these people who are living in these communities that the money is going to.”
    Ericson said it is important for people in the communities to, “think about being mindful of our connection to people who make the goods that we purchase.”
    She said that sometimes people buy things without thinking about where they come from or how they are made. “Some of these products we buy are made from people being exploited.”
    “A lot of beautiful things in this program might take the place of something they would have bought elsewhere,” Ericson said adding that people can feel good about these products, where they came from and the communities that benefit every time something is purchased.   
    LeBrun said some of the items available for purchase are scarves, baskets, jewelry, dolls and other toys.
    According to the GGP Web site, communities who receive funds from the project must show that their products are made according to fair trade policies, represent their cultural values, are created from local materials using local techniques and display skilled craftsmanship. Global Goods identifies partners through referrals from other organizations that share its values, and from site visits conducted regularly throughout the world. Each product comes with a tag describing the organization that crafted the item, the social and economic struggles facing the group and its community and the group’s efforts to overcome adversity and advance social justice.
    LeBrun said the proceeds will help support the church so they can continue to find ways to educate the community about the benefits of responsible consumerism. She said she hopes to have the fundraiser in full swing by the beginning of December. LeBrun said as long as people continue to buy the products the church will continue to support Global Goods.  
    “We all live on the planet together,” LeBrun said. “By making responsible choices in our everyday lives that could affect people around the world is the only way that real progress can happen.”
    For more information about how to get involved or to make a purchase visit www.globalgoodspartners.org. When selecting a product to purchase be sure to include FPUU of Kennebunk in the “School/Organization” box.