The name CARE & FAIR was mentioned for the first time under the headline “Autumn Is Going To Be Hot:
Aid Organization Reinforces Their Mobilisation Against Child Labour“ in the August 1994 issue of “Heimtex“. This professional journal reports that since spring a “Working Group for Child Labour“ with representatives from the BVOI - Federal Association of the Oriental Carpet Importers - (today EUCA - European Carpet-Importers Association e.V.) and from the Federal Association of the German Carpet and Curtain Trade had been active. The objective of this working group was to establish a registered association with the motto “A branch shows its responsibilities“. Financed by a voluntary levy by importers, the selfimporting retail trade and exporters’ aid projects should be implemented in the knotting countries of India, Nepal and Pakistan.

In October 1994, a founding committee was constituted with Wolf-Dieter Horstmann from Art-Tep as chairman and, Klaus Günther from Möbel Unger as vice-chairman and importer Völker Heinrich as treasurer. Other committee members were: Hushmand Sabet from the import company Sabet & Sons, Wendelin Meier from Hemag/ICT in Switzerland, Frits Janssen from I.C.E. Oosterse Tapijten in the Netherlands, as well as Peter W. Engmann, president of the trade association of the German Carpet and Curtain Trade. The resolution was taken to register CARE & FAIR in the association register in Hamburg and to share an office with the BVOI under the direction of Klaus R. Beekmann.

The first funds flowed to CARE & FAIR in January 1995. The branch showed development of a positive readiness to cooperate in the work of the association. In February 1995 “Heimtex“ reported under the headline : “CARE & FAIR is Disappointed: Rather

than Voluntary Levies, Drastic Toll Duties Increase“ about the lack of readiness to co-operate on the part of the EU. There is absolutely no willingness to accept a duty rate as a levy against child labour. At the same time, however, general duty rates have been

drastically increased. And “Rugmark Against CARE & FAIR: Failure to Reconcile Children Protection Up To the Present.“ A crucial test for the carpet branch becomes public.

At the first annual general meeting the treasurer Volker Heinrich can already refer to the impressive sum of 250,000 DM available for aid measures.

In December 1995 CARE & FAIR is recognized as a professional association.

At the beginning of 1996, after the clarification of all legal questions concerning bank transfers in the countries to be supported, the first aid funds can finally be transferred for projects. Meanwhile, the association counts almost 300 members. Around 900,000 DM have been collected.

In spring 1996 a CARE & FAIR delegation discusses the child labour problem on site in detail. The decision is taken to also create a CARE & FAIR organisation in Nepal.

Henceforth, the “Jawalakhel Clinic“ with approximately 12,000 patients per year is co-financed. The “Kakani school“, situated approximately 30 km outside of Kathmandu, is likewise sponsored by CARE & FAIR.

The following conclusion can be drawn at the annual general meeting of 1996: the association counts henceforth 348 members, supports 13 projects in India, Nepal and Pakistan and has at its disposal funds in the amount of 1m DM.

In December 1996 “Heimtext“, under the headline “Consciousness of the Problem Increases in India : The Success of CARE & FAIR in the Combat Against Child Labour“ traces first of all the efforts made by CARE & FAIR in order to increase awareness of Indian and Nepalese carpet manufacturers and exporters toward the abolition of child labour in their plants, and second the work done by CARE & FAIR on site.

CARE & FAIR reinforces its public relations at the beginning of 1997. A video film is available, and CARE & FAIR also becomes present at the internet.

A discussion takes place between CARE & FAIR and the foundation Rugmark under the motto “Common Objective, but Separate Paths“ in February 1997.

CARE & FAIR takes on the responsibility for the “Jwala Hospital“ and shortly after begins the construction of the extension. The ambulance is also stationed here.

In May 1997, CARE & FAIR receives an honorary distinction, the Golden Gilde . The sales and marketing association “Vetega Gilde International“ honours therewith its consequent actions in the combat against illegal child labour.

Result of the annual general meeting of 1997: After the hectic start-up period follows the phase of consolidation. Now, the association can completely dedicate itself to its real objectives, namely the combat of illegal child labour through the creation of school

and training opportunities and the establishment of health care systems.

The formal and intricate registration of CARE & FAIR in Pakistan is finally accomplished in October 1997.

CARE & FAIR takes over the operation of the “Amita school“, with classes in the open air up to this date and constructs a building in the following years.

At the annual general meeting of 1998 the conclusion is drawn that the association works with extended contents: The initiative against illegal child labour has been expanded to include aid for knotting families.

In this context a commitment to an extensive support of the “Bhouda Clinic“ in Kathmandu has been contracted.

After the intensive planning at site, the first part of the building, with the space for 140 children, of the “Chaksikhari school“ in India was inaugurated in September 1998.

In June 1999 a report appears in a professional journal under the headline: “CARE & FAIR helps the Afghan refugees: schools for children against the calamity of education“. CARE & FAIR shows here that one can be flexible and adapt to demands resulting

from political circumstances.

In August 1999 CARE & FAIR and Rugmark publish a joint letter in which they invite the retail trade to act. Therein 836 carpet trade companies are reminded of the fact that they have not joined either of the two organisations.

The CARE & FAIR’s achievements are record-breaking. The association is proud of its 1999 results. Meanwhile, the initiative counts 780 members worldwide.

February 2000 provides an occasion to celebrate. The second part of the “Chaksikhari School“ building for another 200 has been completed.

Meanwhile, eleven schools and health care projects are maintained in Nepal. Frank Schwippert, the new executive director, visits the projects in Nepal and

India in 2000 for the first time. The conclusion of his journey is that carpet-knotting children and their families will require our support for a long time.

In August the “Haji Saheb Ali School“ is opened following one year of construction work and henceforth offers space for approximately 400 children.

The assembly of the annual general meeting of 2000 adopts the resolution to increase the membership fee, an increase necessary for the maintenance of the CARE & FAIR projects.

The Primary Scool in Verne, in the proximity of Lahore, Pakistan, begins its operations in October 2000. It is the first own school constructed with CARE & FAIR funds and subsequently financed locally.

In July 2001, CARE & FAIR takes on the responsibility for five ICT/Wissenbach/Jagritti projects and continues to manage it under its own name. “Negociations Have Reached an Impasse: Until Now. Still No Conciliation at CARE & FAIR and Rugmark“ reports “Heimtex“ in August 2001 about the heretofore fruitless discussions concerning merging the two organisations.

The conclusion of the annual general meeting of 2001: in spite of stagnation in sales, CARE & FAIR remains indispensable. Discussions concerning cooperation with Rugmark should continue.

Volker Heinrich inaugurates the new building of CARE & FAIR’s own “Semuhi school“ in this year. The old school in the neighbourhood, which had become too small, was already supported by CARE & FAIR since 1996.

The discussions about a merger between CARE & FAIR and Rugmark remain without results and are ceased in spring 2002. Nevertheless, the new executive director, Peter Fliegner, emphasises that one should not create concepts of enemies but instead

look for possibilities for co-operation.

CARE & FAIR USA is registered as an aid organisation in Great Neck, New York in 2002.

Child labour is currently not a subject of public debate – this remark was annotated at the annual general meeting of 2002. The fact that the members also swamped this still acute problem frightened even the executive board of the association. CARE & FAIR must continue to keep the projects alive – the assurance of the financial basis becomes a principle problem, because receipts are regressive.

From its foundation in 1995 until September 2003, CARE & FAIR spent more than 2,66m Euros for aid measures in carpet knotting countries. This conclusion was drawn by Volker Heinrich at the annual general meeting of 2003. If the receipts continue to decline, the continuation to finance aid measures can only be guaranteed until the end of 2006 through the available reserves.

In 2004, CARE & FAIR finances 32 projects. Besides schools and daily clinics, nursery schools are maintained and the classrooms are now used in the afternoons, when the children have terminated classes, also for women’s training programs, e.g. in a profession such as seamstress.