MADE51
Championing refugees’ skills and traditions while helping them build sustainable livelihoods
- Location Worldwide
- Working on Support for refugees; Fair Trade products; community cohesion
Often, when a person is forced to flee their home country, their talent and traditions are among the only things they can take with them. MADE51 works with refugees in 35 countries, bringing their artisan craft skills to a global audience via stylish, ethically-made homewares, accessories and more.
Every MADE51 product is the result of a collaboration between refugees and social enterprises in their host countries. This approach helps bolster local economies and integration between communities, while securing meaningful work and a sustainable income for refugees.
In a world where refugees are often treated with suspicion or viewed as a burden, this initiative – launched by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency – highlights their humanity and talent.
Why they are different:
MADE51 is a living example of the ethos of the Global Compact on Refugees, a UN framework that advocates for building refugees’ self-reliance while easing pressures on host countries. Each of the 35 social enterprises involved in MADE51’s work adheres to Fair Trade standards, and is monitored to ensure the wellbeing of their refugee partners.
Why they are kind:
More than 85% of the artisans involved in MADE51’s work are women, who support an estimated 16,000+ beneficiaries in turn. These are beautiful products, borne out of respectful relationships that benefit everyone involved. Not least us, the lucky folk who get to buy the stuff.
