The Little Market sources from artisan and producer groups that aid refugees and internally displaced peoples (IDPs). They must rebuild their lives, oftentimes not knowing the language and culture of the country in which they have resettled.

MANY REFUGEES HAVE BEEN FORCED TO LEAVE THEIR COUNTRIES IN ORDER TO ESCAPE WAR, PERSECUTION, ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE, FAMINE, AND UNIMAGINABLE ATROCITIES.

CANAAN PALESTINE

farming

Canaan Palestine is a social enterprise that collaborates with over 2,000 small-scale farming families. The farmworkers range in age from 25 to 70 years old and include indigenous populations. They are committed to providing sustainable income opportunities, implementing eco-conscious principles, practicing restorative agriculture, and offering essential resources such as community development workshops, finance training, and health programs.

Gaia

Jewelry Making + Sewing

GAIA’s mission is to empower underserved refugee women living in Dallas, Texas through employment, encouragement, and dedication to their long-term success here in the United States. The refugee women transform vintage and artisan-made textiles into home and personal accessories, with a focus on sustainability and quality design. Through a living wage and continued training and development, GAIA’s goal is to help lead these resilient women to financial independence and self-sufficiency.

nivas

WET + NEEDLE FELTING

Empowered artisans in Nepal have created decorative garlands by hand while practicing intricate felt techniques. Many of them previously did not have access to a formal education and are women who are the sole providers for their families. Through this dignified work, they earn a sustainable income, work toward financial independence, and participate in essential resources including skill development opportunities, household financial training, literary programs, health programs, and training programs.

Prokritee

Weaving

Based in Bangladesh, the community-based nonprofit organization Prokritee provides dignified work to more than 2,000 women in rural communities who are rising above poverty. The artisans include single mothers, refugees, survivors of domestic violence, indigenous peoples, and people living with disabilities. Through dignified work, they have access to fair wages, participate in essential training and personal development programs, and connect with a larger marketplace, bettering themselves and their communities.

prosperity candle

candle making

The women of Prosperity Candle have recently resettled from refugee camps and are building a brighter future for themselves and their families in the United States. Prosperity Candle is a social enterprise based in Massachusetts that invests in women entrepreneurs to help end poverty. Candles are the focus of this enterprise because candle making is a business a woman can start and expand in the safety of her own home with local materials, a critical element at times of unrest.

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.