3 Steps to Sustainable Change: Arzu Rugs Has it Right

By on January 8, 2009 in Causes

I learned from my year in the Marshall Islands that paying market wages to artisans in developing countries, although a fundamental of economic justice, is only a partial solution to fostering true local economic growth. The Marshall Islands, like so many countries, is caught between a western monetary economy and its original self-sustaining system of barter and trade. Too reliant on modern currency, clothing and TVs to revert, but lacking the resources to compete globally, the Marshall Islands languishes in between two worlds. While I was there, volunteering with the Ministry of Education and acting as an ad hoc journalist, it never became clear to me which direction benefited the Marshallese, a progression to modernization or a return to traditionalism.

I’m sharing this experience to underscore my regard for Arzu Rugs, an organization that supports Afghani women through commerce, education and health care. Although technically a non-profit, Arzu (which means "Hope" in Daru) is working to become self-sustaining through its rug sales.

With the awareness that money alone will not change people’s lives, Arzu goes beyond providing a market for Afghani rugs to establish structures for future growth in Afghani communities. By combining income, education and health care, Arzu is transferring the balance of power from foreign groups to individuals and family heads throughout Afghanistan.

Weavers are paid fair price and receive a 50% bonus upfront if they agree to Arzu’s ‘social contract.’ The social contract mandates that all children under the age of 15 in the woman’s household attend school fulltime and all women in the household attend literacy classes. If there is not a government school nearby, Arzu sets up schools in the local village. Health care initiatives under the social contract focus on reducing the country’s maternal mortality rates, which rank the second highest globally. The organization partners with local health care practitioners to provide its community of weavers pre- and post-natal check-ups as well as transportation to the appointments.

As of 2007, more than 2,000 women were receiving fair wages, education and healthcare in exchange for their handcrafted rugs (Arzu’s figures are somewhat outdated). Measured against the limited opportunities that Afghan society allows women, the impact and intelligence of Arzu’s work is remarkable.

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About olivia

Olivia Kuhn-Lloyd believes in the reach of business to effect real social change. She works with companies who are forging a new paradigm of cause capitalism and writes about the power of consumer choice at Cause+Capitalism. She managed international trade advocacy with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., working with both foreign ambassadors and national business owners to tell their stories. She left the Chamber to spend a year in the Marshall Islands as a volunteer teacher and journalist. When she returned to the States, she worked with nonprofits and grantmakers in Los Angeles on program development, capital campaigns and executive coaching. Olivia now works with businesses to integrate social cause at a fundamental level and build community around the product or service. She lives in Santa Monica, CA.
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7 Responses to 3 Steps to Sustainable Change: Arzu Rugs Has it Right

  1. veronicaferrari January 8, 2009 at 5:03 pm #

    Thanks for sharing this story about hope and the higher consciousness of the ones who implemented it. Please advise if there is a way in which these rugs can be purchased or marketed, or any other way to contribute to the cause, or any other causes of this kind. Many thanks.

  2. olivia January 8, 2009 at 5:11 pm #

    Hi Veronica, thanks for the comment. You can indeed purchase the rugs. They have many gorgeous collections and affiliated with retailers, although I think you can also purchase online. Arzu also accepts donations if you're not in the market for a rug! Here's the website: http://www.arzurugs.org. I'd love to hear if you end up buying something or donating.

    All the best,

    Olivia

  3. buddhistprincess January 8, 2009 at 7:48 pm #

    When were you in the Marshall Islands? I was born in Philly but I was rasied out there on Kwajalein. The big issues that we tried to take on , mostly on Ebeye, was medical and social issues. We won't be able to bring everyone to an equal level till we reevaluate our value system as the human race. Money, which I am sure that god doesn't like playing a close second too, will always breed inequality to all. Thanks for the shot of home-sickness.

    Love always in thought

    buddhistprincess

    (nickname now)

  4. caracal January 9, 2009 at 1:03 am #

    This is such a wonderful project to support! Thank you for letting us know about it. I support a similar group called Kiva which does much the same thing for small business enterprises in impoverished areas. Their site is http://www.kiva.org.

  5. olivia January 9, 2009 at 2:49 pm #

    Hi Regina,

    We share a unique background and experience! Thank you for your comment. I emailed you through Intent.

    Olivia

  6. randi5001 July 22, 2009 at 4:58 am #

    yes i have used Arzu rugs and they are really good lasts for a long time but you need to do good cleaning with San Diego carpet cleaning to use for a long time

  7. qwerty November 2, 2009 at 1:52 am #

    What is Arzu Rugs?Give more details.

    flooring