Globally, almost 385 million children are living in extreme poverty. According to the World Bank Group, the effects of poverty are most damaging to children because the deprivations they suffer affect the development of their bodies and their minds.* By working with social enterprises that provide stable employment for mothers and resources for children, such as food, housing, medical care and education, The Little Market is able to help lessen the effects of poverty for children around the globe.

CHILDREN ARE MORE THAN TWICE AS LIKELY AS ADULTS TO LIVE IN EXTREME POVERTY.

Ajiri

farming

Ajiri is a Kenyan social enterprise that strives to create employment opportunities for women and to support the education of the country’s orphan children. The social enterprise works with farmworkers to source flavorful, hand-picked tea and coffee and supports the artisan women who design its recyclable packaging. Ajiri provides farmworkers with fair, living wages and access to beneficial workshops on topics ranging from literacy to nutrition.

elliefunday

STAB-STITCHING EMBROIDERY

EllieFunDay partners with an artisan group consisting of 40 women working as part of a sewing unit. Many of these artisans are single mothers; some of them have experienced a form of domestic violence or abuse. The artisans have access to job training, fair wages, dignified employment, healthcare, and educational resources.

olive & annie

JEWELRY MAKING + LEATHERWORKING

Olive & Annie empowers Maasai artisans in Kenya as they work toward financial independence. It is a branch of the charitable organization She Matters, a community of survivors and advocates united against sexual violence. Through the group, these women have access to essential resources, including educational opportunities, community development workshops, and health programs.

RAZAFINDRABE COLLECTIONS

weaving

Razafindrabe Collections is a social enterprise in Madagascar. The products reflect Malagasy artisans' skills and techniques passed on from one generation to another. The majority of the women have multiple children and previously did not have access to a formal education. Through Razafindrabe Collections, they have access to a sustainable source of income and skill development opportunities. Razafindrabe Collections also supports the local primary school with basic supplies and donates 10 percent of its profits to the lunch program.

womencraft

basket weaving

WomenCraft is a social enterprise and member of the World Fair Trade Organization working with more than 300 artisans. Artisans practice a weaving technique that is traditional to Hangaza culture weaving in the tri-border region between Rwanda, Tanzania, and Burundi. This specialized coiling technique combines natural grasses interwoven with vibrant materials of the region. This technique is passed down from one generation to the next, specifically from mothers to daughters or women to women. It is also unique to the artisans’ communities.