Lucille Chi
Pictured here are images of gifts offered by Traidcraft, the UK’s leading fair trade organization with a mission to fight poverty through trade, practicing and “promoting approaches to trade that help poor people in developing countries transform their lives.” Traidcraft’s unique structure – a trading company and a development charity working together – gives them a unique how trade can be made to work for the poor. How is fair trade defined?
“Fair trade seeks to transform the lives of poor producers in the developing world by enabling them to use their skills and resources to trade their way out of poverty. It seeks to challenge injustices in trading structures and practices that so often lead to the exploitation and marginalisation of poor people.”
Pictured above from left to right:
1. Bangladesh – House of Bamboo: “Life for Nurunnabi was tough. He was homeless and everyday was a struggle to earn enough to eat. Three years ago, a Traidcraft partner put him in touch with a local business association – a move that changed his life. Not only did he learn how to market and sell his bamboo products to fair trade markets in Europe, he now trains others too. But best of all, Nurunnabi has a home to call his own.” Read more about this gift here.
2. Rainbow Hammock: Buy this swing for yourself and enjoy taking a break on this beauty made out of jute fibers by women in Bangladesh. This hammock gives local craftswomen the opportunity to sell their goods for a fair profit.
3. Fair Trade and Organic Wine is also available, and you lucky readers in the UK will enjoy their wine flight specials.
Traidcraft helped establish the Fairtrade Mark, which guarantees:
* A fair price which covers the cost of sustainable production
* An extra premium to invest in community projects
* Defined standards for the health, and social and economic welfare, of producers
* Defined standards for the protection of the environment
But Traidcraft didn’t stop there, and with the help of our thousands of supporters and customers Traidcraft goes the extra mile by:
* Choosing to work with poor and small-scale producer groups
* Working in partnership with our producers, committing to long-term relationships and engaging in regular contact
* Investing in the development of producers to help them build professional, sustainable businesses
* Offering the widest range of fair trade products in the UK
* Pioneering innovations in fair trade
* Lobbying governments to advance the cause of trade justice
* Tackling issues faced by people who are disadvantaged by unfair trade agreements
* Demonstrating ethical business practices and challenge others to do the same
More on Giving Through Trade:
