Simpsons boost for Kenya village - July 29 07

[raspeople77]

price is controlled by market forces,eventually someone else will offer a better deal,and the benneficiary will be the villagers.4 now whoever is in the deal will enjoy it.

[py1000]

Kemboy83- Do you actually listen to things? Or do you just make reactionary statements which are not only inacurate but are based on your astonishing ability to mishear and misinterperate information.

The narator explains the the KSH120 is for trainees/apprentices. Qualified carvers get $6

[kemboy83]

the pieces are sold for US $46, and they are paid KSh 120 (US $2)... = EXPLOITATION.

even adding any storage, shipping, administration & marketing costs, this is ridiculous profiteering. globalisation at its unfair best.

[py1000]

Kemboy83- Do you actually listen to things? Or do you just make reactionary statements which are not only inacurate but are based on your astonishing ability to mishear and misinterperate information.

The narator explains the the KSH120 is for trainees/apprentices. Qualified carvers get $6

[africanbeauty84]

convet that to KSH and u get 20KSH. where's da justice there. it still not enough....fox will earn thousands selling these in american stores while the cravers get wat 120ksh or 20 ksh....that's not fair trade.

[py1000]

africanbeauty84 -Do you actually listen to things? Or do you just make reactionary statements which are not only inacurate but are based on your astonishing ability to mishear and misinterperate information.

The narator explains the the KSH120 is for trainees/apprentices. Qualified carvers get $6

[africanbeauty84]

yes i did hear that....and thank you very much in insulting me. all i'm saying that that's not enough in kenya the standard of living there is much high than that. by insulting and saying that i'm not listening, is rude and incorrect. coz i've had first count of money situation in kenya and i know 120 KSH is not enough to raise a family on whether it's per day, week or month.

[py1000]

With respect, I have vast experience of Kenya: wages; fair trade; unemployment-etc

I will say again- The figue you have quoted is a TRAINEE/APRENTICE wage. Not a fully trained carver wage.

Trained carvers get 450ksh.450 is approved by KEFAT. Good pay by local standards-above average rural wage. An Econ major below confirms this meets MDG

The wage is FAIR. its sustainable business.

btw What have you done in Fair Trade? -besides your critue of this business from behind a computer

[africanbeauty84]

first of all don't be rude....second of all it's a free country and i can say what i want when i want and if i have an opinion i say it whether i offend anyone.

[africanbeauty84]

and they say this is fair trade....it is expoliation. coz fox will make more money than them.

[SniperViper1000]

@kemboy83 In Africa that's alot of money. so Shut yo mouth.

[Stiofan1979]

They are excellent, shame they aren't paid a proper amount for the brilliant work they do.

[cvukltd]

Thank you for the comment about the products being great! Your other comment is incorrect.

The carvers ARE paid a fair amount. Plus we recently agreed a deal to increase their income and provide a budget for tools and equipment.

We are operating within the guidelines and ethics of Fair trade and have the backing and endorsement of the Kenyan Export Promotion Council.

[cvukltd]

This is a sustainable business. Among the cost areas the sales price has to cover are; :  Production. Packaging. Print Work. Quality checks. Dispatch. Shipping costs to UK/US. Shipping Insurance. Customs costs, taxes, duties. Clearing. & Forwarding. UK/US Storage. UK/US distribution. Product & Public liability insurance. Website costs. Bank fees. Debit/credit card processing fees, general business overheads etc.

Regards to al!!

Craft Village UK.

[njeriwajudi]

the are PEOPLE/ HUMAN BEINGS BEING POOR IS A SITUATION THEY ARE IN. yu could have said it good to see that a group of people who happen to be poor making......

[njeriwajudi]

poverty striken is the key issue use positive words to describe them dont put these people in that category

[njeriwajudi]

i dont need to learn english am a luyha go figure yu need to leard to adress humanity with a dignity

[WorldVisionStir]

brilliant!! well done!

[SolAurum]

Hey, it's improving lives, what's not to like?

[njeriwajudi]

angalia hi ngombe kasia that happens to be am uncle yu calling poverty striken that i can assure u he aint. yu are poverty stricken cause yu think your country availing yu more oppotunity makes yu better than the rest of us ngombe hii!!! shis!!!!

[timkilimo]

In this debateyou can whatever side and still be right. I'm an Econ Major but as a Kenyan from rural village, that money is very much needed. I don't think these guys taxed either besides the deal meets MDG. I think they (British firm) should help them with more efficient tools tho. For the other nay sayers, what have you done apart from from your critiq in front of your computer?

[antdude]

Heh, does FOX approve this? :P

[cvukltd]

Hello. Apologies for the long comment here. Thanks for the positive responses below. To answer some questions . . .

The carvers receive 450 shillings (over $6) per piece which is up to six time what they would otherwise receive for a similar size carving (of for example an elephant.) As the carvers get more familiar with the characters, they will soon be able to produce 1 unit per day = $6 per day income.

[cvukltd]

This may not sound much from a Western perspective but in local terms the Carvers are VERY well paid. Plus additional income is generated in the village for the quarry workers, the polishers, packing etc . . .

Income and employment is also generated in Nairobi for packaging companies, print companies and a dispatch/shipping agent.

Someone asked about the distribution of the sales price. Among the cost areas the sales price has to cover, are;

[cvukltd]

Production. Packaging. Print Work. Quality checks. Dispatch. Shipping costs, (Nairobi to UK/US) Shipping Insurance. Customs costs (taxes/duties) Clearing. & Forwarding. UK/US Storage. UK/US distribution. Product & Public liability insurance. Website costs. Bank fees. Debit/credit card processing fees, general business overheads etc.

[cvukltd]

To suggest a Western business is getting rich off the carvers is incorrect. This is a business and as such profits are made, but we are operating within the guidelines and ethics of Fair trade and have the backing and endorsement of the Kenyan Export Promotion Council.

Regards to al!!

Craft Village UK.

[JamesSchaeffer]

It certainly sounds beneficial to all sides to me. If more companies would do this it would improve the quality of life for millions of Kenyan consumers.

[chocair]

Muy bien, ojalá las pudiesen vender acá en la América Latina.

Ma'a Salama

[Zrazys]

Hooray for entrepreneurs in Kenya. Hopefully, their government will recognize their efforts!

Now, what if they learned about Internet marketing? They could get more money for their efforts by selling directly? Perhaps other groups of craftspeople could get involved in the market?

[GildersleeveDB]

what's the music playing in the beginning of the video?

[princeshakaZ]

$3 a day is quite a lot if you consider the exchange rate and cost of living. They getting higher than the average. Maybe it is a little unfair that the british and american companies exploit them but at least they living. Which is more than I can say for other people in africa.

[kxmode]

where's the fair wages? $3 a day compared to $46 per statue? sad to say but keep buying them if it helps Kenyans. i wish these companies would give better wages... $6 a day would probably be really charitable.

[ignisfatuus]

if it takes two days to create one of those models at $3/day, the employee gets $6 per. that leaves $40 of the $46 unexplained. the importer's taking the lion's share as that's how these things work. but i wonder how much they pay. has to be more that $6 so i wonder where the remainder goes. whether it's profit for the employer or if it's a co-op in which the profits are distrubted to the community in the form of public services.

[friendlyskies23]

I didn't see anyone complaining about the wage, that guy seemed really grateful. Anyway, fourlayers, keep in mind that US$3 per day may equal a living wage in Kenya, but all products manuafactured outside Kenya (cars, washing machines, refrigerators, medicine, iPods) cost about the same everywhere - US$3 is US$3 if you need a laptop for your business.

[fourlayers]

Yeah, but that sort of materialism that we take for granted in America isn't necessary in their society, so it's a moot point. $3/day more than adequately pays for their food, shelter, and other basic needs. It may not be *our* standard of living in America, but it's better than average in Kenya.

[JamesSchaeffer]

Eh, I'd say that's a pretty fair wage considering the cost of living in Kenya. I'd suggest that they boost it from 3 dollars to 4 dollars though, because it won't cost the retailer that much and could make a huge difference in that village.

[gumacyare]

but you still get welfare which is more than what they work hard for!!

[snoopball8]

wow they earn more than me!

(well thats because i dont work)

[fourlayers]

Making "millions" in America is a bit of an overstatement. $3/day is more than most others make in their country and the cost of living is far less there than in America or the industrialized world. $3/day is still probably $10/hr in America.

[gumacyare]

but who makes $10 dollars a day in America? Americans earn $ dollars an hour....so the deal is completely unfair.

[fmm3]

For god sake learn to read gumacyare!

[larsiemannen]

jizes christ..

They've got the chance to make some money for the living and there is only complain!

The alternative is to starve..

Capitalism is UNDOUBTLY a good thing!

[Mobbin01]

well that depends on what side of Capitalism you end up on!

[neilincanada]

Their pre-Simpsons carvings sold for $1 each. They sell the Simpsons carvings for $6 each. That is a 6x increase in profit. They sell in the UK and online for $40. I think this is pretty typical for international trade. We could say it's unfair but trade only happens if Western companies make large profits, and it is better than no trade.

[clusterbombcocks]

3 dollars a day!? what the hell fox!? you should be ashamed, with the talent these men have, they can come to america and make millions!

[mo1elftausend]

Good Job if they are being paid fair.