about us

MISSION AND VISION

The creation of a network of consumers and communities that promotes sustainable economic development through an embracement of Brazilian handicraft.

This network entails Tekoha’s value proposition, a combination of business and community development that enables conscious consumers all over the world to contribute to sustainability through beautifully handmade products with a story to tell. Tekoha started from the firm belief that in a network of artisan communities and conscious consumers, the traditional trading system could be changed from a zero sum game to a win-win situation. Why choose between making money and making a difference? The handicraft traded within Tekoha’s network promotes environmental and social sustainability in a financially viable way.

Through the creation of a network of clients and artisan communities Rede Tekoha brings over 600 artisan products to several high-income markets. For five years, Tekoha reached its clients through four distinctive channels, namely retail, e-commerce, B2B, and export. By applying basic business intelligence to the culturally rich products made by the artisans Tekoha had managed to generate a significant income stream for the communities in our network. It enables them to sustain there lifestyles, lifestyles that maintain Brazilian culture, nature, and traditions. As such, our activities conform to the riple bottom line. People, planet, and profit, all factors of sustainability are represented in the way we like to approach community development at Tekoha.

New paths and acquaintances

Althought all this, from our experiences, we decided to follow another work strategy. We stop to trade directly the products and start applying our know-how in commercialization of these specific items for society. We offer our experience to build up together successful business models for direct impact and generation of income for the communities. We concluded that the corporate market is still the most profitable market for low-income communities because it demands high volumes. We also realize that retail sales through partnerships are economically viable to some groups.

We are pretty sure the best way forward is promoting partnerships among civil society organizations and government. All of them working together in one direction can align market demands with the handicraft production. When we talk about partnerships, it is for conjoint, integrated and linked operations.  Limited partnerships aren’t enough to overcome some challenges. The commercialization of these products is still surrounded by conflicts, lack of financial services and information.

Even with this new direction, our beliefs, principles and decision processes are still the same. That’s the reason for this change!

PARTNERS & CERTIFICATION

In 2010, Rede Tekoha partnered with one of the most experienced Brazilian NGO’s in the field of community development, Artesol. Artesol has 10 years of working experience in community development and has succesfully completed countless projects on social and technical community development. The two organizations share highly similar values and goals, and therefore have become partners with the goal of strengthening and disseminating the concept of fair trade in Brazil. By creating effective mechanisms for Brazilian products to become more competitive and reach a greater part of the fair trade system nationally and internationally both parties will contribute to the sustainable development of low income rural and urban Brazilian communities.

Through the partnership with Artesol, all products traded by Tekoha can be considered fully compliant to the 10 standards of fair trade as described by the World Fair Trade Organization.

Standard One: Creating Opportunities for Economically Disadvantaged Producers
Poverty reduction through trade forms a key part of the organization’s aims. The organization supports marginalized small producers, whether these are independent family businesses, or grouped in associations or co-operatives. It seeks to enable them to move from income insecurity and poverty to economic self-sufficiency and ownership. The trade supports community development. The organization has a plan of action to carry this out.

Standard Two: Transparency and Accountability
The organization is transparent in its management and commercial relations. It is accountable to all its stakeholders and respects the sensitivity and confidentiality of commercial information supplied. The organization finds appropriate, participatory ways to involve employees, members and producers in its decision-making processes. It ensures that relevant information is provided to all its trading partners. The communication channels are good and open at all levels of the supply chain.

Standard Three: Trading Practices
The organization trades with concern for the social, economic and environmental well-being of marginalized small producers and does not maximize profit at their expense. It is responsible and professional in meeting its commitments in a timely manner. Suppliers respect contracts and deliver products on time and to the desired quality and specifications.

Standard Four: Payment of a Fair Price
A fair price is one that has been mutually agreed by all through dialogue and participation, which provides fair pay to the producers and can also be sustained by the market. Where Fair Trade pricing structures exist, these are used as a minimum. Fair pay means provision of socially acceptable remuneration (in the local context) considered by producers themselves to be fair and which takes into account the principle of equal pay for equal work by women and men. Fair Trade marketing and importing organizations support capacity building as required to producers, to enable them to set a fair price.

Standard Five: Child Labour and Forced Labour
The organization adheres to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and national / local law on the employment of children. The organization ensures that there is no forced labour in its workforce and / or members or homeworkers.

Organizations who buy Fair Trade products from producer groups either directly or through intermediaries ensure that no forced labour is used in production and the producer complies with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and national / local law on the employment of children. Any involvement of children in the production of Fair Trade products (including learning a traditional art or craft) is always disclosed and monitored and does not adversely affect the children’s well-being, security, educational requirements and need for play.

Standard Six: Non Discrimination, Gender Equity and Freedom of Association
The organization does not discriminate in hiring, remuneration, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement based on race, caste, national origin, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, union membership, political affiliation, HIV/Aids status or age.

Standard Seven: Working Conditions
The organization provides a safe and healthy working environment for employees and / or members. It complies, at a minimum, with national and local laws and ILO conventions on health and safety.

Standard Eight: Capacity Building
The organization seeks to increase positive developmental impacts for small, marginalised producers through Fair Trade.
The organization develops the skills and capabilities of its own employees or members. Organizations working directly with small producers develop specific activities to help these producers improve their management skills, production capabilities and access to markets – local / regional / international / Fair Trade and mainstream as appropriate. Organizations which buy Fair Trade products through Fair Trade intermediaries in the South assist these organizations to develop their capacity to support the marginalized producer groups that they work with.

Standard Nine: Promotion of Fair Trade
The organization raises awareness of the aim of Fair Trade and of the need for greater justice in world trade through Fair Trade. It advocates for the objectives and activities of Fair Trade according to the scope of the organization. The organization provides its customers with information about itself, the products it markets, and the producer organizations or members that make or harvest the products. Honest advertising and marketing techniques are always used.

Standard Ten: Environment
Organizations which produce Fair Trade products maximize the use of raw materials from sustainably managed sources in their ranges, buying locally when possible. They use production technologies that seek to reduce energy consumption and where possible use renewable energy technologies that minimize greenhouse gas emissions. They seek to minimize the impact of their waste stream on the environment. Fair Trade agricultural commodity producers minimize their environmental impacts, by using organic or low pesticide use production methods wherever possible.
Buyers and importers of Fair Trade products give priority to buying products made from raw materials that originate from sustainably managed sources, and have the least overall impact on the environment. All organizations use recycled or easily biodegradable materials for packing to the extent possible, and goods are dispatched by sea wherever possible.