Many ethically sourced items we can buy from Africa come
from small businesses made possible by microfinance. Like in the US, supporting
small businesses in African countries is better for their economies than, say,
Wal-Mart. Larger profits and empowerment go to those doing the work, rather
than to middlemen who trickle very little of the profit down to the large
numbers of workers under them.
Goods you may have bought from these small African
entrepreneurs include sugar, chocolate, coffee, and shea butter. These are
major crops that many small farmers are capable of making a living from, when
they are able to get their crop to market.
Many of the entrepreneurs in Africa are farmers, because
this is the majority of rural economies. However, other “typical” rural African
businesses sell fabrics, jewelry, and baskets. It is the help of large
organizations, like Whole
Planet Foundation or Toms,
which provides them access to the world market.
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