From November 2003 to March 2008 Economic Development Imports LLC (EDImports) sourced fair trade products handmade by women living in marginal socioeconomic conditions in East and West Africa. The sale of these products demonstrated how the tools of business can change lives in ways unachievable through aid programs alone. A short video of our work with artisans in Kenya is available in the lower right box of this page.

You can also read about our work from our Case Study: Rwanda where we've seen women who have come from a place of horrible tragedy to one where they support themselves and their families, building self-esteem and securing sustainable futures.

Despite these successes, we have also seen how difficult it is for a small player to have significant or lasting impacts on either the development of the fair trade industry or, perhaps more importantly, on the intended beneficiaries of the "trade not aid" model.

As such, in March 2008 EDImports transitioned its products and artisan groups to our friends at One World Projects, who now represent artisans in more than 25 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Retail and wholesale customers who've purchased from us in the past will recognize One World Projects as the company who has handled all our orders throughout the years. It was important to us that artisans continue to have an outlet for their goods. We wish them and the team at One World Projects continued success.

The founder of EDImports, Liz Wald, is now using her analytical, operational, entrepreneurial and emerging market skills to help grow other socially-minded companies. Read more about making change happen at www.edimpacts.com.

About EDImports' Founder