Soapstone Unicorn

Mass produced toys made with plastic or soft toys made with toxic dyes.

MATERIALS
100% soapstone

SIZE
3.5" long (tail to horn) x 2.5" tall, 1.25" wide

SOURCE
In accordance with Fair Trade Principles, these figures are made by the skillful hands of the artisans within the Tabaka cooperative in Kenya, dedicated to vanquishing the shadows of suffering in the Kisi region.

CERTIFICATIONS
Fair Trade Federation Member

Like many young people, Karl Wald always knew that he wanted to make a difference in the world. A trip to Sri Lanka and a chance meeting with a paper maker named Thusitha Ranasinghe turned out to be life-changing for Karl — and for the elephants. 

Karl completed his post-doctorate studies at the USDA in 2004. In 2005, he arrived in Sri Lanka to shadow an elephant veterinarian. Dr. Wald also taught English classes. It was through his conversations with Thusitha that he was given a wonderful insight, which led him to become the founder of Mr. Ellie Pooh, LLC.

Both men, as it happened, had a love of animals and concern for the environment. Soon the two friends found themselves looking for a way to save the elephants in Sri Lanka. Elephants naturally are not favored as neighbors by farmers, who, in turn are shrinking the elephants’ habitat. When elephants trample and destroy valued crops, they are often shot and killed. Karl and Thusitha believe that providing sustainable jobs gives value to elephants. 

While it may not completely resolve the human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka, Ellie Pooh is already going a long way toward raising the tolerance of farmers toward the elephants — by actually compensating them for damage to their crops. For this reason the elephant is seen more as an economic asset and less as a nuisance or threat. The people will not want to see the elephant disappear from their midst, and Ellie Pooh paper plays an important role in the saving the population of Asian elephants in Sri Lanka. 

Every purchase you make increases demand for our products, creating more opportunity for our workers. Every Mr. Ellie Pooh gift makes an impact — saving elephants, creating jobs, protecting trees.

In accordance with Fair Trade Principles, we provide sustainable artisan jobs in the Kegalle district of Sri Lanka. These jobs help build support of the local communities and are essential to the success of our conservation efforts. 

Advantages our workers enjoy: Most of our workers live local to the factory, and can conveniently walk to work To earn extra income, artisans may take work home Artisans have the freedom of expressing their creativity while earning an income Our workers are proud that their products are sold in America and other countries around the world.