What We Do

The UK office of HWW was set up to help organisers in different countries make links with each other; to exchange experience; to produce information, newsletters and training materials useful to organisers and for advocacy around the issue of homebased work.

Grassroots Projects

HWW raises funds and carries out projects in close coordination with organisations in other countries. These vary from big projects, like the mapping programme (2001-2004) to smaller activities, like holding an exhibition of sujini (embroidery) and khatwa (applique) in Leeds produced by Adithi members in India.

Campaigns

HWW works to making homebased workers visible both through our own campaigning and advocacy work and in partnership with other organisations. HWW supports the demands of homebased worker organisations for recognition and rights as workers.

Other Activities

Other activities include organising visits and exchanges. HWW can support other organisations by giving information, contacts or for example holding exhibitions in the UK.

Urgent Appeals

HWW support urgent appeals from homeworker organisations. A recent example of this was response to the Asian Tsunami.

"The work that I do is alpaca. I raise the animals and do all the jobs, from spinning to weaving. We sell our products very cheaply. It is not easy work. I have been doing it for fourteen years. There are few benefits. We are always working and we are always humiliated by the intermediaries and others. This is the first time that I have had the opportunity to come to a meeting like this."

Homebased worker, Bolivia

"Many women are looking for ways to survive through homebased work. What shocked me the most about our visit, was that the employer did not know the women by name, but only knew their numbers."

Organiser, Bulgaria