Empowerment Through Trade

The idea is simple - we want to encourage rural artisans to improve their livelihoods by providing them access to a worldwide market via the Internet.

We do that by building a web-based platform that connects community-based sellers to a socially-conscious market. These online stores can be set up and managed by the communities themselves, and Elevyn works closely with NGOs and field partners on training, consultancy and advisory.

A portion of sales (5 - 10%) made thru the online store will fund specific Causes that support the local communities - "Raise $100 to buy books for the school", for example.

Elevyn also intends to empower communities. In existing cases, it is known that some craftmakers only pocket less than 10% of its final sales price in the market. This is a situation that Elevyn can change - and we foresee that more than 70% of the item's sales price can go back to the producers.

The Elevyn platform is currently in alpha development, and we are working on a pilot project scheduled for release in July 2008.

In the meanwhile, you are welcome to follow our progress via the Elevyn blog, or sign up with us so that we can inform you of new updates!