H.O.W to Choose Fair Trade Gifts for Christmas

This Christmas why not make a difference and buy gifts that are made by fair means.

Recently our local community held a Fair Trade market and it was a fantastic opportunity for many to purchase gifts for Christmas. When we buy from fair trade producers we are contributing to the community development of poorer nations with a percentage of the profits used for the education and social development of local communities; the establishment of medical and health services and we are building into the transformation of individual lives that have been, through the practice of conventional trade, discriminated against.We make a social conscious decision each time we buy a product from a Fair Trade producer to contribute to a fairer deal globally for workers that have long been exploited in developing countries.

What is Fair Trade?

Fair Trade practices began as a protest to the injustice of traditional global trade practices which marginalized smaller producers particularly in third world countries. It's goal is to ensure fair prices are paid to producers in developing countries

Fair Trade is a growing social global movement to protect the rights of producers in poor countries and make sure that they are treated to a fair deal economically. Highlighting the injustice of traditional trade practices it seeks to ensure that workers in poorer countries are entitled to better working conditions and fairer prices for produce and commodities. Ensuring that women are valued equally to men in the work place; that children have not been exploited and improving work conditions the fair trade movement has given workers their dignity back and the right to more control over their lives.

What Fair Trade is Not

• A passing Trend
• A social compromise
• A fashionable statement or interest

Countries that endorse Fair Trade practices produce goods such as toys, jewellery, clothing, gift ware, hammocks, rugs and food staples such as coffee, tea and chocolate.

Where to find Fair Trade products online

As online shopping is becoming the norm more frequently many people are turning to a click of the key board to purchase just about everything and a quick Google search will find many organizations that promote Fair Trade practices such as the following;

Oxfam - Fair Trade producers supply many organisations such as Oxfam with everything from tea to toys to jewelry.

Little Sparrow - Groups such as the Little Sparrow supply delightful baby and children's toys and whose motto is to 'create fair, ethical, fun products with love' liase with ethical groups in India, Nepal and Bangladesh educating, training, and employing women who are at risk of trafficking, who are marginalized for many reasons such as illiteracy, are disabled or are trapped in the poverty cycle. These skills change lives, give dignity and stop the poverty cycle for many.

The Trading Circle - Suppliers of beautiful rugs, quilts etc is an initiative of the Sisters of the good shepherd. An organization formed to respond to global poverty was founded in1995 and works with 40 different producer groups in 10 developing countries in Africa, Asia and South America. The Trading Circle is directly making a difference helping women who are in dire circumstances by sourcing and providing reliable fair income to help them to trade out of poverty.

kipepeo - creators of unique recycled greeting cards hand made by women living in the slum area of Nairobi. Each beautiful card is different and bears the signature of the one who made it.

H.O.W you can get involved

• Learn about Fair trade practices
  
• Write about fair trade practices to educate others
• Become a volunteer with any organization that supports Fair trade practices
  
• Buy from the online stores and markets
  
• Support Fair Trade organizations financially

Make this Christmas count. Your purchase, your donation or your valuable time given to support Fair Trade practices help to empower and change lives