Welcome to WEAVE

Fair Trade Federation

Motivated by the vision of a world where women and their children are free to excercise their human rights, WEAVE is committed to teaching women to become socially, economically and politically empowered.

WEAVE (Women's Education for Advancement and Empowerment) was founded in 1990, with the intent to empower indigenous women and support their needs and basic human rights. The organization has evolved over the years, especially in the context of the influx of refugees from Burma.

In 1994, WEAVE developed a partnership with refugee women's organizations. This lead to changes in our mission to reflect the organizations new thrust and direction. Read more »

Supporting the Rights of Indigenous People

6 August, 2008 (16:19) | News | By: Madeline Sahagun

WEAVE was invited along with over 40 international organizations as representatives at the Asia Indigenous People’s Fair: Celebrating the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People . WEAVE is extremely proud to be able to contribute to such a critical event helping to enhance solidarity among people around the globe. WEAVE\'s exhibition at the AIPP Fair

Hundreds of community members attended the event to help raise awareness and highlight the issues and challenges faced by indigenous communities regarding poverty, protection and land rights. WEAVE showcased how our Income Generation Project (IGP) assists with the economic development and empowerment of indigenous women from Burma who are now living in the refugee camps at the Thai-Burma border. WEAVE’s exhibition focused primarily on the natural, organic dye products made by women from Mae Ra Moo camp. Their beautifully crafted products exemplify how IGP programs can help to preserve indigenous roots and culture while simultaneously empowering women and alleviating poverty.

The convention was organized by the Asia Indigenous People’s Pact Foundation (AIPP) who invited groups from agencies of the United Nations, NGO’s and representatives from indigenous organizations and communities. Groups from Nepal, Japan, Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia, Burma, China, Bangladesh, Laos, India, Taiwan, Indonesia, East Timor, Thailand and many others contributed to the two-days of exhibitions and seminars. The seminars included topics on the protection of land rights and sustainable development, women’s empowerment, culture and development, indigenous identity, natural resources of indigenous people, capacity building and tourism and indigenous rights. To learn more about these issues please visit www.aippfoundation.org .

Join Our Team: Seeking a Publication Program Officer

23 July, 2008 (14:05) | News | By: WEAVE

WEAVE is currently seeking a Publication Program Officer to coordinate the overall publication work of WEAVE. To view the full job description please CLICK HERE. WEAVE welcomes applicants from women from ethnic minority communities and gives preference to them. Qualified men are also welcome to apply.

If you’re interested in supporting WEAVE in other ways, please visit our SUPPORT US page to view other opportunities.

To-go Ware visits WEAVE: Every product has a story

28 June, 2008 (14:00) | News | By: Madeline Sahagun

Every product has a story…

WEAVE products are increasingly becoming internationally recognized because of partnerships forged with socially and environmentally conscious companies like To-Go Ware. Their mission is to make innovative, reusable and environmentally conscious products that provide solutions and inspire communities around the world to participate in the process of change. Inspired by WEAVE’s mission to empower refugee women from Burma through income generation initiatives, To-Go Ware continually provides their support by purchasing and marketing WEAVE’s high quality handicrafts. By recognizing WEAVE’s vision to foster self-reliance among women through economic empowerment (click here to learn more) , To-Go Ware has helped to bring awareness to the issues affecting displaced women and their children living at the Thai-Burma borders.

To gain a better understanding about the journey and the story behind each of WEAVE’s products, To-Go Ware’s founder, Stephanie Bernstein, visited the artisans who live at the refugee camps, crafting each utensil holder and becoming a part of global change. Watch the video as she connects with the women and brings inspiration and meaning to their crafts.

Click here to be a part of the solution!

Travel with To-Go Ware to Thailand. Press play to get a glimpse of our work.

Book Release: Where Women Have No Doctor

9 June, 2008 (15:46) | News, Publications | By: WEAVE

Where Women Have No DoctorIn partnership with the Hesperian Foundation, WEAVE released the first adapted Burmese version of the internationally renowned health handbook, Where Women Have No Doctor. This women’s health resource guide has been published in numerous languages. WEAVE is proud to have been able to contribute to such a valuable resource especially for Burmese health workers and the communities of women who have little or no access to healthcare.

Where Women Have No Doctor combines self-help medical information with an understanding of the ways poverty, discrimination and cultural beliefs limit women’s health and access to care. Developed with community-based groups and medical experts from more than 30 countries, Where Women Have No Doctor is an essential resource for any woman who wants to improve her health, and for health workers who want more information about the problems that affect only women or that affect women differently from men.

To order the adapted Burmese version please contact WEAVE.