The Story of Second Life Ethiopian Artisans
This is not just a retail shop, it is a story. A story that spans continents and generations. It’s a story where tradition reflects the beauty of changing times and where a community of people uplift and celebrate fairly made products and change lives and communities.
Second Life Ethiopian Artisans is thousands of stories. This story started in 2007 when a family from Nova Scotia welcomed their daughter Dagimhiwot (Second Life in Amharic) from Ethiopia. Her family knew it was critical to stay connected to her roots in Ethiopia. While traveling to Ethiopia in subsequent years, Lisa discovered Sabahar and other Ethiopian crafts people and began to sell these treasures to friends and family in Canada. Only working with groups who interrupted poverty through fair and equitable employment, Lisa was motivated knowing that not only was the beauty and history of the country being showcased, it was supporting employment that impacted families, communities and generations.
During these years Lisa and her family also worked in educational centres through Real Humanitarian, a small Canadian, family run not for profit, making big impacts on Ethiopian children and their guardians. The education and support they have provided across Ethiopia has literally transformed communities and provided children with the opportunity to be who they have the potential to be.
In December 2023, after a global pandemic and a civil war in Ethiopia, this Balch-Scott family finally travelled back to Ethiopia together as a family unit to reconnect with friends and family to work with the children in the Real Humanitarian centres. This visit was so rich in connecting with youth and with artisans, with old friends and new, that born was the idea that through resurrecting Second Life Ethiopian Artisans, we could not only show the world the beauty of this country, we could use purchasing power to support much needed aid to both businesses and Real Humanitarian.
100% of the profits made from your purchase
will go back to Ethiopia!
Purchasing these fairly traded products Ethiopian artisans flourish and youth and their guardians flourish with 100% of profits going back to Real Humanitarian in Ethiopia through supporting education, volunteer travel and special resources.
This means the story will continue. Artisans will create and provide for their families, children and their guardians will get much needed financial aid through programming and you will bring into your home a piece of Ethiopia.
When you feel each product imported by Second Life Ethiopian Artisans, when you delight in its beauty, when you understand the tradition behind its creation and you are introduced to the faces whose hands made each piece, when you see the children’s whose lives shine brighter with education, you will experience part of the story. The story continues with you, with the places and experiences you have, how you live with these products in your world, every day.