WSDO differs in many respects from other manufacturers. Although we produce a wide range of handmade products of highest quality, we are a non-profit fair trade organization, with the goal to empower disadvantaged women in any way. The women of WSDO are not only regarded as employees, but rather as family.

In this way, we not only employ the women to be able to earn their livelihoods, but also…

• Comply with the principles and practices of World Fair Trade Organization;
• Ensure our women can manage both family commitments and employment by requiring no production quotas, instead paying them per item, working on a flexible hourly basis, according homework and providing a child care centre
• Provide them with free annual health check-ups and arrange health and hygiene awareness camps for our members and their families
• Enable continuing education opportunities by involving WSDO teachers and staff in national and international trainings as well as providing various types of refresher courses to our established workers, ensuring participation in handicraft fashion-show programs, and both national and international exhibitions and providing English language training when possible
• Provide a cooperative savings and credit program, where the women can save money for the future and can obtain a loan with nominal interest; for the senior teachers, WSDO has a savings program where the women can deposit 10% of their monthly earnings in an interest-bearing account
• Recognize the women’s work by awarding cash prizes for the best worker, providing clothing allowance, 60 days paid maternity leave, and emergency allowance
• Organize educational tours to cultural sites and organizations, social programs, outdoor activities such as picnics, and cultural celebrations for festivals such as Teej and Dashain
• Organize celebrations to observe International Women’s Day (March 8), World Fair Trade Day (the second Saturday of May), Teej (generally in late August or early September) and Home-Based Workers Day (October 20)
• Take care of our members’ children by offering scholarships between Rs 1000 to Rs 7000 depending on the family’s financial situation and awarding cash prizes for best-in-class or best-in-studies
• Provide a new dress each year for the women who help maintain our premises

We also care about our supply chain members and the environment, and…

• Try to use fair trade products as raw materials along with eco-friendly (natural and Azo-free) dyes
• Cooperate with non-fair trade suppliers who are from disadvantaged and economically challenged backgrounds
• Invite interested persons to experience the chain of production step by step as a volunteer
• Provide frequent international guest tours and offer possibilities for volunteer work