Kristin Doherty with some of the "founding mamas" of Global Mamas in Ghana in the 1990s. (Submitted photo)

I know a guy who knows a guy. My guy is Ansly, a former student of mine at EIM, an adult English school in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Although civil unrest in Haiti has prevented me from returning since 2019, I still raise funds for the school which has persevered through COVID and anarchic violence. I used to bring Haitian metal art back by the suitcase-full and sell it at the Eau Claire Global Market, donating the proceeds to EIM. But since I can't go, I call Ansly, who, as I mentioned, knows a guy, and he hooks me up with the goods: beautiful Christmas ornaments.

I am not alone. The Eau Claire Global Market attracts a delightful bunch of kindred-spirit vendors who haul or ship or enlist friends as “mules” to connect makers in developing nations with a small but supportive U.S. market: Eau Claire. This yields bigger profits, increasing their access to health care and education, thereby improving their capacity to work and earn. This year the Eau Claire Global Market will feature 20 vendors and will be held 9am to 3pm on Saturday, Nov. 9, at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Eau Claire.

Kifaru Youth and Children Center Founder Lynn Roghair, right, and Julianna, who benefited from the organization. (Submitted photo)

While in Tanzania, Lynn Roghair, of Kifaru Youth and Children Centre (KYCC), connected with her hotel maid, Julianna. After learning that the creative young woman had an abusive husband, Lynn suggested that Julianna attend KYCC’s vocational trading program for tailoring.

Today, Julianna is safe. She has made enough money for a home and to pay for her children’s school fees. KYCC’s mission statement is to break the cycle of poverty through education, entrepreneurship, and compassion. Lynn will be bringing Julianna's aprons, along with other goods, to sell at the Eau Claire Global Market.

Kristin Doherty works with Global Mamas, an artisan group formed by six Ghanaian women she met there while in the Peace Corps in the 1990s. She started by stuffing her suitcase. As the group grew, she shipped boxes to herself until U.S. Customs officials told her she needed a proper customs agent! Now 20 years on, they have nearly 300

“Mamas” producing for the organization. Kristin will be selling Global Mamas merch at the market.

As for my guy Ansly, he recently moved to New York under Temporary Protection Status, but he still reached out to his guy, the metalwork artisan, who shipped me lovely ornaments. Now that Ansly is in the U.S. with a job at Home Depot, he had a question for me: "Miss Bonni, can you tell me how to make a donation to EIM?"

Which is exactly how this thing is supposed to work!

Seventh Annual Eau Claire Global Market • 9am-3pm, Saturday, Nov. 9 • First Congregational Church of Christ, 310 Broadway St., Eau Claire • @eauclaireglobalmarket on Facebook • ecglobalmarketgifts@gmail.com