A “Social Enterprise” Company with a heart for Mongolia
Focusing on Hand Crafted Gifts make by Citizens of Mongolia
Always ready to branch out if it leads to employment for more people
Mary & Martha Mongolia was created and registered in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia in 2007:
- To generate small business opportunities for the people of Mongolia
- To expand markets for Artisans
- To demonstrate ethical business
- To operate by fair trade principles through WFTO (Member ID 713 from January 2011)
- To encourage balanced lives in the economic chain
- To corporately support our local community
- To reach out to those who have least, giving hope and dignity – through 'Lost Sheep Ministries'
We work to build trust with our artisans so that we can ensure they can earn at least the equivalent of one and one half times the current minimum wage – more if the market will bear it. Profit is clearly not our driving motive but to survive as a company and to support our associate artisans into the future we must make a small profit – in the region of 10-15% after tax. In 2010 we used a portion of our profits to support Lost Sheep Ministries in our local community, including Celebrate Recovery (Recovering Alcoholics), Alpha Communities (Orphanages), and MINA Micro Enterprise and the Lost Below Ground
Currently, our artisans make the following products:
- A diverse selection of Mongolian Kazakh bags and other beautifully embroidered products produced in Bayan Olgii, in the far west of Mongolia.
- Handmade felt slippers and many other felt products produced by a cooperative in Zuun Kharaa, some 175 km up the railway line from UB.
- Felt Bags from a small Believers Fellowship in Arkhangai
- Hand knitted Yak, Camel, Yamel, Wamel, Bramel and Angora stoles, shawls, scarves and ponchos produced by a cooperative in Zuun Mod.
- Camel yarns from the Gobi herders and Yak from central Mongolia are being sourced and spun by hand in Zuun Mod.
- Hand painted silky scarves and ties depicting floral and Mongolian scenes.
- Hand made greetings cards – Mongolian and general.
- A range of Fridge Magnets depicting cultural aspects of Mongolian life.
- Mongolian Kazakh 'Wall Hangings', Felted / Embroidered Wall Hangings and Throws
- The list is endless - over 400 products at this time.