The need, our vision, our values, our impact areas and our contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals

The need...

There are millions of women in India who are trained to stitch but are unable to use their sewing skills to earn an income. Secret Projects is designed to create income generating opportunities for women in India by using their expertise.

Our vision...

A world where all women have the confidence and resources to make choices, thrive and contribute to the strengthening of their communities.

Our values...

Our values below are a fundamental aspect of who we are and how we operate as an organisation. These values are not only upheld by Secret Projects staff, but by our Maker Communities, our Shareholders and Customers, as well as our Influencers and Secret Leaders.

We have self-belief

We support one another

We believe in team-work

We persist

We think and think again

We trust our instinct

We take pride in everything we do

We work with joy

We have an entrepreneurial mindset and...

We celebrate leadership

Secret Projects Community Benefit Society (SPCBS) - our impact areas

We are a Community Benefit Society set up to benefit communities of marginalised women in India. We work with our subsidiary company in India, Social Power India to create and support sustainable livelihoods and an equitable world.

Our impact areas are:

Social Investor Platform: We provide a platform for social investors who want to invest in women’s empowerment and the creation of sustainable livelihoods.

Secret Leaders/Influencers: We are a vehicle for people who want to make a difference through their own personal and business networks, using their skills, passion and creativity.

Linkages: We connect our Maker Communities with the global marketplace (Business to Customer / Business to Business) by creating market linkages.

Fair Trade: We work within the 10 Principles of Fair Trade as set out by World Fair Trade Organisation to achieve fair wages and acceptable working standards and we are working towards minimal waste.

Experiences: We offer a variety of ways that our Makers and Customers can meet and work together.

SPCBS is run by a team of female 3 directors. We employ 1 part time member of staff and also work with volunteers, interns and sub-contractors.

Social Power India Private Ltd. (SPI) - our impact areas

Social Power India enables sustainable livelihoods towards an equitable world.

Our impact areas are:

Training: We run our own training programme and we create and sell customised training packages to collaborating organisations

Professionalisation: We support a rise in quality of production and promote the concept of selling and marketing.

Enterprise Development: We mentor our Maker Communities to capitalise on the opportunities available to them locally

Leadership: We identify emerging leaders within our Maker Communities and support their development.

Sales: Maker Communities produce clothing and homeware that are sold to a global market through linkages created by our parent company, Secret Projects Community Benefit Society UK.

Fair Trade: We work within the 10 Principles of Fair Trade as set out by World Fair Trade Organization to achieve fair wages and acceptable working standards and we are working towards minimal waste.

Our contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals

The work of Secret Projects makes a direct contribution to a number of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These goals provide a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet now, and into the future and we are proud to play our part. Our work makes an impact on:

Goal 1: No poverty,

Goal 5: Gender Equality

Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth

Please read further details about our work towards these goals below.

UN Sustainable Development Goal 1: No Poverty

At Secret Projects, we believe that no-one should live in poverty. Backed by this belief, we pay our Makers a minimum of twice the Indian basic wage and the women receive 70% of the profit from each Secret Product they stitch. This money has been used to pay for children's education, to buy medicines, reject offers of unethical employment and our personal favourite, to fund the set-up of a number of micro-enterprises.

UN Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality

Gender Equality is an area that we are utterly passionate about. Our vision is a world where all women have the confidence and resources to make choices, thrive and to contribute to the strengthening of their communities. Working in 5 India states where employment opportunities for women are scarce, we have over 150 women within our Maker Community, all of whom earn an income from the making and selling of clothing and homeware. Our firm plan is to grow our network of Makers over the coming years.

UN Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

We have no doubt that all workers should be treated fairly and rewarded appropriately for their efforts. Secret Projects evolved through a desire to help women use the sewing skills they had to earn an income to support themselves and their families. Our Makers are fully supported through our 4 stage Virtual Training for Empowerment Programme to learn not only to stitch Secret Products to an international market standard but to also develop their leadership and entrepreneurial skills. Those that want to are supported to set up their own micro-enterprises, thus making a contribution to their communities through employment opportunities, as well as the wider economy.