Contributing to the sustainable development of individuals and their communities is one of the most important and strictly guarded of KWABLA’s Principles. With this in mind, KWABLA has created a unique approach to providing sustainable development assistance, the Artisan Development Accounts. KWABLA’s Artisan Development Accounts (ADAs) act as a savings account for each individual artist where a percentage of the proceeds gained from the sale of a specific artist's work is directly deposited. Each time someone purchases a KWABLA item then 10 percent of the proceeds from that sale is deposited directly into the ADA of the artist that created the sold item. Additionally, individuals can make donations to the ADA’s and designate exactly which artist the funds are meant to support. In this way, customers and fans of KWABLA’s partnered artists can provide development assistance to their favorite artists! 100 percent of all donations made by individuals to the Artisan Development Accounts will always go directly to that specific artist. KWABLA does not use any portion of donations to the ADA’s for maintaining the organization or any other corporate finances, all donations go directly into the account of the artist chosen by the donor and are used to offer development support to that artist. To hear more about making a donation to an Artisan Development Account, click here. KWABLA uses the funds in the ADA’s towards sponsoring micro-development projects, giving loans and grants, and investing in the lives, families and local communities our partnered artisans. KWABLA’s Artisan Development Accounts demonstrates our commitment to aiding our partnered artisans in three ways: by purchasing their works at fair and reasonable prices that allow the artisans to earn a livable wage, by representing these artisans and their goods to an expanded market thereby increasing their income opportunities, and by investing sales proceeds and donations into the lives and communities of these artists through the Artisan Development Accounts. The ADAs are also consistent with other of KWABLA’s Principles to foster a personal connection between indigenous artisans and consumers because the ADA’s enable people to donate directly to their favorite artisan and be sure that the money will go towards bettering the life of that individual, their family and local community. In this way, KWABLA’s Artisan Development Accounts allow you to be personally connected to indigenous artisans through direct giving as well as through your general shopping experience on kwabla.com. As of November 1, 2010 the balances in each Artisan Development Account were as follows: Carlos Salvador Ojeda = $142.11; Dońa Sofía Reyes = $58.50; Federico Domingez Castro = $45.25; Gerrald Kabuye = $23.00; Hassan Ssebunya = $90.49; Kofi Acheampong = $385.48; Kwasi Nyamekye = $42.45; Kynma Mukwaya = $33.87; Marcario & Elena Pocop = $86.79; Mahama Zuruka = $127.65; Marcine Stead = $30.50; Norma Jean Ortiz = $52.96; Raul Iturbide Ciriaco = $43.78; Reymundo Pantaleón Artanaz = $95.15; Roderick Wadoo Scott = $32.79; Samuel Iturbide Ciciaco = $61.65; Sharlym & Keith Chino = $39.60; Soledad Vásquez = $88.11; Vicenta Teodoro Celestino = $26.85; Vicente Hernŕndez = $116.78 Total Balance of ADAs: $1,623.76 Click Here To Learn About Donating to an Artisan Development Account