Since the opening of its first storefront in 1950, SERRV International has worked to bring fairly sourced crafts and foodstuffs to market.
SERRV sells a wide range of housewares, crafts, clothing, foods, and gifts, all fairly traded and responsibly made. As one of the first Fair Trade organizations in the world, they have extended to 24 countries worldwide, working to empower over 8,000 artisans and farmers every year by selling their handcrafts.
Their mission is “to empower small-scale global artisans and farmers through long-term trading partnerships, helping them build sustainable employment, resources, rights, and a vision of hope in their communities.”
SERRV works to create employment and pay fair wages to their farmers and artisans while working to end child labor. They support community development, using loans and donations to help fund healthcare, education initiatives, and other resources in the communities where they work. At the same time, SERRV strives to preserve traditional arts and crafts and creative techniques in the communities from which they export goods. They do this while encouraging sustainability among artisans.
As they state on their website, “With your support, we can continue to combat global poverty and work to help artisans and farmers build better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities.”
In Fair Trade practices, buyers must pay makers upfront for product. The Untours Foundation has granted SERRV multiple loans over the years, allowing them to make more purchases and bring more Fair Trade products to market.
To shop for beautiful hand-made goods that are lifting people from poverty, shop SERRV’s website. To help the Untours Foundation support fair trade, make a donation.