After 15 years of protecting children and promoting ethical carpet and rug production through the RugMark certification, RugMark International became GoodWeave International (GWI) in order to strengthen and enhance its core mission. GoodWeave is now the brand and the label seen by importers, retailers, designers, and ultimately consumers.
The introduction of the GoodWeave label has marked an important phase in the evolution of our organization. GoodWeave stands for a deep commitment to:
- the deterrence of child labor;
- the education and rehabilitation of rescued child laborers; and
- the families and communities of the children in India and Nepal.
As a part of this evolution, GWI established a subsidiary called GoodWeave U.G. GoodWeave U.G. began activities in India to ensure greater transparency, rigor and community involvement in our programs. Click on the links below to learn more about GoodWeave’s work in India.
Core to GoodWeave’s mission is a transparent, verifiable system of inspection, monitoring and certification. In order to ensure maximum credibility from the outset, GoodWeave UG required all exporters who were actively supplying licensed importers to be re-licensed.
Since GoodWeave was introduced in 2009, all exporters licensed with GoodWeave have been inspected by a reputable third-party certifier, Level Works, as well as by an in-house monitoring system from Varanasi. These inspections encompass the effort of thousands of workers toiling on looms, tufting frames, and washing and dyeing facilities as well as all the related finishing work throughout the primary carpet-producing regions of India. Inspections for current and newly licensed companies are ongoing and unannounced.
A new GoodWeave standard, which addresses child labor in a more holistic way to include adult working and environmental conditions, was approved in March 2011. This new standard, to be phased in over twelve months, represents an enhanced set of values that places the GoodWeave mission in a broader context of environmental and social responsibility. The standard was developed in close consultation with stakeholders at every level, led by a multi-stakeholder standards committee including child and labor rights, manufacturer, importer, retail, NGO and technical representatives.
Through this new standard, GoodWeave label directives will be more rigorous, transparent and defined. For guidance in this effort, GoodWeave is an associate member of the International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labeling Alliance (ISEAL), a global leader in setting norms and best practices for certification.
These new developments will allow GoodWeave’s partners, members and end purchasers to have even greater confidence in the label’s claims. More information about the GoodWeave standard-setting process is available at www.goodweave.net/standard-development .
A critical component of GoodWeave’s work in India is the rescue, rehabilitation and education of any children found working in licensed factories. GoodWeave works in close partnership with qualified local organizations to carry out these programs. Since June 2009, GoodWeave has contracted Bal Vikas Ashram, based in Allahabad, to provide rehabilitation (shelter, food, clothing and schooling) to any children found working in licensed facilities. Any rescued children are offered the opportunity to attend school long-term with full support from GoodWeave. Click here to read about one such child, rescued by GoodWeave in February 2011.
In the fall of 2009, GoodWeave and the Global Fund for Children (GFC) launched a partnership to strengthen community-level programs in Uttar Pradesh. Through its partnership with GFC, GoodWeave is successfully tapping the organization’s 15 years’ experience working with grassroots social programs in India that serve the most vulnerable children and youth.
GFC is working with GoodWeave to identify, vet, co-fund and evaluate community-owned and -operated programs that help eliminate child labor through education, advocacy and other direct services. The first two jointly funded projects are 1) a basic education program that works with 15 community education centers to re-integrate out-of-school children into the formal education system and 2) schooling for 200 of-age girl laborers in weaving communities.
GoodWeave’s support to the “non-formal” education programme is providing 100 children with basic classes in math, science, social sciences, and English. Operated by Human Welfare Association (HWA), the centers also engage the community to encourage parents to support their children’s transition to formal schooling. The centres also play a pivotal role in influencing attitudes toward higher education for girls, as most of the community does not allow girls to be educated beyond the eighth grade. With GoodWeave support, HWA was able to open up a new centre, called Project Muskan (meaning “Smile”), in the summer of 2010.This centre is located in the village of Kapsethi, 30 kilometres from central Varanasi and two kilometres from the nearest government-operated school.
Read more about the program as covered in The India Times here.
Through a local non-governmental organisation called Sanchetna, GoodWeave is funding schooling for 200 girl labourers of legal working age in weaving communities. A disproportionate number of girls fail to receive an education in these communities, as most of the girls work either in the home or in the weaving industry. Sanchetna operates night schools providing of-age girl laborers an opportunity to receive an education. Girls between the ages of 15 and 18 who attend the school are encouraged to form bal panchayats, which focus on providing child rights education, leadership skill building, and peer mentoring. The initiative also offers cultural and recreational activities, emotional support mechanisms, and assistance in mainstreaming to formal schools.
In early 2010 GoodWeave successfully piloted a new health programme for workers at carpet-weaving factories in Panipat. By educating and highlighting the health risks involved in carpet-weaving – such as inhalation of fiber dust – the initiative sets out to encourage workers to take more responsibility for their own health, be aware of potential symptoms and to use the protective equipment supplied, in order to avoid potential illnesses. Workers also receive basic health checks, and are referred to local health care providers for any issues arising during the check-ups, where they receive care at a discounted rate. GoodWeave is now rolling out the programme to more factories in the area, in partnership with the Advit Foundation.
In order to fulfil its vision and obligations to its stakeholders (including licensees, financial supporters, and beneficiaries) GWI required transparency and accountability about the work being carried out in India, and historically worked with RugMark Foundation (India) (also referred to as “RMFI”). Due to differences with RMFI over an extended period of time, GWI ceased collaboration with RMFI and proceeded with a new initiative in India, operated by GoodWeave U.G., as mandated by its governing council of members in the U.K., U.S., Germany and Nepal.
RMFI has made allegations regarding GoodWeave’s work in India, which are untrue. Under GoodWeave, as outlined above, improved certification systems, new social programs and consultation on the new standard were launched. These new programs and new standard are an extension of and build upon GWI’s many years of prior work to end child labor in the carpet industry.
GWI is enthusiastic about its improved systems and expanded scope, as our joint effort to end child labour and improve social and environmental conditions in weaving communities will have far greater impact.
For information about GoodWeave in India, please contact:
Ms. Ritu Tagyi
Program Director
91 981 803 4816 (phone)
ritu@goodweave.net
New Delhi, India
Mr. Mathew John
Program Manager
91-8004925614 (phone)
91-542-2201172 (tel/fax)
mathew@goodweave.net
Varanasi, India