Rise Beyond The Reef
Rise Beyond The Reef is a non-profit organisation focused on improving the lives of women and children in the Pacific Island communities through ethically handcrafted goods.
Rise Beyond The Reef is a non-profit organisation focused on improving the lives of women and children in the Pacific Island communities through ethically handcrafted goods.
Rise Beyond The Reef is a non-profit organisation focused on improving the lives of women and children in the Pacific Island communities through ethically handcrafted goods.
Founding Story
Rise Beyond The Reef is a non-profit founded by Semi and Janet Lotawa, who have been involved in community development for years. In recognising the opportunities and inequalities for Pasifika women, they decided to leverage traditional knowledge and arts to sustain not only livelihoods but also the cultural heritage of these communities.
By intricately blending ecologically, culturally and socially conscious handmade goods with climate-smart agricultural approaches, the organisation is crafting a sustainable pathway for Pasifika women.
“Rise Beyond the Reef bridges the divide between remote communities, government and the private sector in the South Pacific, sustainably creating a better world for women and children.”
Fair Trade Commitments
In partnership with rural remote, primarily indigenous women in Fiji, RBTR work towards building a thriving women-led value and supply chain that's market-driven, consistent, and helps elevate women's agency in their communities as leaders and decision-makers.
RBTR pays fair prices to their artisans based on the average labour hours for each product, cost of raw materials, and a 25-35% profit margin. On average, their hourly rate for labour is 55-65% above Fiji's minimum wage.
Artisans receive their cash payments at the village gate, and are paid individually for their work. Prices paid to artisans are reviewed with artisan groups annually through a Memorandum of Understanding process. Artisan groups elect their Village and District Coordinators at this time.
Environmental Commitments
RBTF also has an agriculture programme supporting farming clusters to transition from subsistence to semi-commercial agriculture. They do this by promoting regenerative soil practices, agroforestry, and planting "climate-smart" crops to better weather uncertainties, particularly those due to global climate change.
Community Commitments
Their Traditional Contemporary Arts & Crafts Income-Generating Program is meant to help indigenous women in Fiji develop leadership skills and earn a regular income. Much of their work in this area focuses on building women's economic resilience to help shift harmful gender norms, including gender-based violence, and help ensure women's inclusion as decision-makers and leaders within their families, villages, and districts.
“Empowerment means providing women and girls with education, skill building that promotes the practice and preservation of traditional knowledge, and income-earning opportunities beyond those available at home and in traditional patrilocal cultures.”
Products
Fashion accessories, homewares, toys, wrapping paper, luggage tags, vanilla
