{"id":3000059560,"date":"2022-06-21T11:48:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-21T15:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wework.com\/ideas\/?p=3000059560"},"modified":"2022-06-27T06:36:18","modified_gmt":"2022-06-27T10:36:18","slug":"artisan-decor-made-by-refugees-rebuilding-their-lives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wework.com\/ideas\/community-stories\/member-spotlight\/artisan-decor-made-by-refugees-rebuilding-their-lives","title":{"rendered":"Artisan decor made by refugees rebuilding their lives"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When people are forced to flee their cities or even their countries, they inevitably have to abandon their livelihoods as well. For many refugees\u2014a record-breaking 100 million worldwide\u2014finding a new way to earn a living goes a long way toward rebuilding their lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200b\u200bOne initiative that is working to create new livelihood opportunities for refugees in the artisan sector is MADE51<\/a>, a UN Refugee Agency<\/a> brand that brings refugee-made products to a global market. To bring visibility to MADE51\u2019s work and the products of the refugee artisans it works with, WeWork is bringing the brand on board as a decor supplier. Handcrafted decor items will be used in WeWork locations around the world, including in London<\/a>, Paris<\/a>, and Oslo<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a company, WeWork is a great admirer of MADE51 and is thrilled about taking this step forward. In honor of World Refugee day, we arranged a Q&A with Heidi Christ, the global lead for MADE51 at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). We asked her to tell us about the MADE51 model, the refugee artisans they work with, the product designs, and how both WeWork and every one of us can help support refugees worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heidi Christ:<\/strong> The global refugee crisis is one of the defining crises of our time. In fact, this year we\u2019ve seen the levels of forced displacement reach an all-time high of 100 million people. There is a desperate need for innovative solutions, and I\u2019m proud to say MADE51 is one of those solutions. The MADE51 model and brand was established by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in 2018.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What we saw then was that there were millions of refugees and forcibly displaced people who were living in protracted situations, situations where they were in host countries for 15\u201325 years on average, awaiting a way forward: safe return, local integration, or resettlement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
An embroidered cushion cover handcrafted in refugee camps by Afghan women who specialize in embroidery techniques that have been passed down for generations.
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

These individuals needed opportunities to earn a living, reestablish independence, and rebuild their futures with dignity. We identified the artisanal sector, which is the second largest source of employment in low- and middle-income countries, as one with great potential for refugees, particularly women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We took an innovative approach, where refugee artisans are included in local businesses in the artisan sector, rather than working in parallel. And we started linking refugee artisan groups with local social enterprises in their host communities. We now have over 32 partners around the world, working directly with refugee artisan groups to create unique MADE51 ranges that are sold alongside the enterprises\u2019 existing lines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These social enterprise partners are selected based on their proven experience in design, production management, export and marketing. We vet all of them, in collaboration with the World Fair Trade Organization, to ensure that they work with refugees in Fair Trade conditions. As MADE51 grows, these local businesses grow too, enabling them to make greater investments in local communities and build social cohesion. <\/p>\n\n\n