How Sabahar Builds Economic Resilience
How conscious are you of your daily spending and its global impact? I will start by acknowledging that this post may not resonate as widely as my last on Emotional Intelligence in Children, but it is just as important. We are often encouraged to “shop local” and reduce our global footprint. This is certainly an inspiring ideal. But it is also a privilege.
I understand that not everyone has the financial flexibility to make values-based purchase decisions. For many individuals and families, the concern is not where a product comes from or how it was produced, but whether they can afford it. I am not a big-box store person. I avoid shopping at Walmart because of my concerns about corporate practices, labour conditions, and the broader economic impact. That said, there have been times in my life when I have shopped at Walmart. When my children were little, my husband and I were both unemployed. Essential items, such as diapers and milk, were significantly cheaper. My value to ensure my family’s financial stability was more important to me than not shopping at Walmart.
Examining the Global Impact
This dichotomy is not unique to me; it reflects a global phenomenon. Individuals all over the world make decisions about what they can and cannot afford. For instance, many whom I have worked with in Kenya, from the Mathare slums, have compromised themselves in the form of prostitution to feed their children. These decisions reflect a hierarchy of values that shape and guide our financial decisions. In her book “Living on Little: Navigating Financial Scarcity in Modern Kenya,” Julie Zollmann expands on the large Financial Diaries project in Kenya, initiated in 2012. The book documents the struggle of many to sustain the financial means to support themselves and their families.
I have worked in international development and seen some great projects and organizations. Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) is one of my favourite. Sustainable business models are needed that utilize local resources, provide a living wage and address the needs of vulnerable populations, such as women. Women primarily look after their children, and when they can’t, they will compromise themselves, risking their health, to provide for their children.
I recognize that our financial decisions are shaped by privilege, and I advocate that those with privilege use it to make the world a better place for many more individuals. Daily spending has the potential to make a global impact. I am lucky, born in Canada, white, and middle-class. Although my gender, as a woman, might marginalize me in some contexts, it pales in comparison to the majority of women in Africa. I want to live in a world where luck does not define our place of privilege. I want to live in a world where access, resources, and possibilities are shared more equitably across communities.
This belief is the foundation of Resilient Generations, a commitment to leverage privilege and create a vehicle for collective well-being and expanded opportunities for many more individuals.
How Sabahar Builds Economic Resilience
This commitment to make a global impact drives my support for economic resilience among the communities I work with in Africa. It is why I have chosen to purchase products from Sabahar in Ethiopia for the past 12 years. Sabahar is a fairtrade organization based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
One of the reasons I value Sabahar is its commitment to sourcing all materials locally within Ethiopia, while building on a centuries-old tradition that ensures cultural continuity. This also builds upon and maintains the local supply chain. Every piece is hand-spun and woven, reflecting a historical craft and affirming their heritage. These products are then sold globally.
Sabahar also prioritizes the empowerment of women. Although weaving has traditionally been done by men, a significant portion of Sabahar’s employees are women. Sabahar is a certified member of the World Trade Organization.
Kathy Marshall, the founder of Sabahar, has been instrumental in pioneering the production and use of silk in their products. The scarves weave together cotton and silk.
The Joia and Stella Scarves are 65% silk. Sabahar has temporarily discontinued the Joia Scarves. Resilient Generations still has some in stock, so order while supplies last. The Joia scarf is a heavier weave, so it is slightly more expensive than the Stella Scarf.
You can find them both on the Sabahar Product page of my website.
It is also worth noting that the silk used by Sabahar is Eri silk, also known as “peace silk” or “ahimsa silk. Unlike conventional silk production, this process allows the moth to emerge naturally from the cocoon before harvesting the silk, resulting in an ethical, vegan-friendly product 😊
Sabahar provides detailed information about the silk production on its website. Where you can also learn more about Sabahar. If you are ever in Addis Ababa, it is worth a visit.
Thank you for your reflection on how your purchase choices can make a global impact. By buying Fairtrade products, we make a small but important impact to make the world a better place for many more individuals.
I only have a few of the Blue Joia scarves; they are stunning, just so you know.
