Our Upside-Down Philosophy

TAPP USA studies the medical, economic, social, and theological factors that contribute to the HIV-led crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa.  We believe that the AIDS pandemic affects us all.  While experiencing the transformational TAPP Uganda communities we saw much stigmatization, marginalization, and oppression targeting persons living with HIV and AIDS.  While AIDS carries the stigma of the “immoral disease” we seek to call ourselves into account and continue to ask how we may best love the person next to us.

 

MISSION

To create economic opportunity for TAPP Uganda Artisans living with HIV an AIDS through fairly traded handcrafted products and local project support. 

To empower U.S. persons and communities to creatively seek social justice through grassroots advocacy

 

Core Values

Upside-Down Economy

We position ourselves as learners to the poor who guide us through what it means to empower the world’s most vulnerable.  

 

Handcrafted Products

In a world of manufactured goods we emphasize a handcrafted product and the connection it gives the buyer to a person and/or community.

 

Fairly Traded

We pay market prices directly to the artisan before products are shipped overseas. 

 

Dignity Restoration

Though poverty eradication is important, we ultimately value space for our Ugandans to breathe new life through dignity restoring artwork, and for others to recognize the world’s most vulnerable as truly human.

 

 

  1. (Additional photography provided courtesy of Daniel Hayduk - www.danielhayduk.com)