Arusha Fair Trade

Forgotten Anything?

2011-12-24T01:40:00.001Z

It happens to everybody; it’s the day before Christmas, you are finished with Christmas shopping and then you realise you have forgotten something. Time for a mad panic! But don’t worry we can help! There is one gift you can order online on the last day of Christmas shopping and still have delivered in time for Christmas; a Gift Certificate from Arusha Fair Trade. We’ll send the Certificate straight to your inbox; you print it out, present it to your loved one and tell them you thought they would like to choose their own present. If you like we can add a personal message to the gift certificate, just tell us what you have in mind in the delivery notes section when you are ordering online.

Delivery will be free for your gift recipient; when they place an order using a gift certificate, or voucher, delivery is automatically added free of charge. There is no expiry date on our gift certificates and vouchers. Click here to buy a gift certificate.

Stocking Filler Idea

2011-12-06T19:49:00.000Z

This pen is made from wood and comes with a case, also made of wood. Both are decorated with traditional Worli art. Costing just €11.95 it makes a great stocking filler or a gift for a 'difficult to buy for' Dad.

Worli art originates from a small tribe of the same name living in Maharashtra, India. Their tribal paintings are spontaneous expressions of folk life, customs and beliefs, conveyed on these products through simple ink-pen drawings on maple wood.

Click here to purchase from our online shop.

Beautiful Shoulder Bags now with 25% off

2011-12-05T01:28:00.000Z

Beautiful shoulder bag made with softest fine Indian goat suede and sheep leather. 25% off the regular price. Are you tempted? This bag would make a great Christmas Present and they are now just €56. Buy this bag and you help support girls in Nepal who have been rescued from a life of slavery.

This large slouch shoulder bag is is available in brown, black or grey. The main body is made of soft suede with leather detail and leather shoulder straps, magnetic catch to close. It is fully lined with cotton and includes an internal zip.

The bag is handmade in Nepal but hardware is not produced locally in Nepal and so to reduce air miles over the Himalayas, this unique collection excludes hardware, highlighting the soft combination of sheep leather and softest Indian goat suede.

These beautiful bags are made by girls rescued from slavery from the Indian circuses by the Esther Benjamins Trust. You can read more about the story of these girls on the product page of our online shop.

Fiver Friday

2011-06-28T18:20:00.000+01:00

July 1st 2011 is Fiver Friday in Ireland. Joe Duffy and the RTE Liveline Team are encouraging consumers to give the economy a little boost by spending an extra fiver locally.

Here at Arusha we are offering all our customers a €5 discount plus a free gift on all orders received from 1st to 3rd July.

How do I use my discount voucher?

Begin by browsing our store. Make your selections and click to add them to your cart. Then click on the "CART" button to the left of your screen.

You will see a voucher box enter the code "FIVER" and €5 will be deducted from the cost of your order. (Please make sure you click on the CART button and not the CHECKOUT button.)

Consumer Distress

2011-06-11T11:23:00.003+01:00

Cartoon from www.developmenteducation.ie

Fair Trade Pan Pipes

2011-05-26T09:41:00.003+01:00

A traditional South American instrument recreated in young bamboo. The artists have created an intricate etched design to the wood. A scale of 12 notes is bound together with bamboo and twine. It is played by blowing across the top of the note to create a haunting, flute like sound.

Please note this is a real musical instrument (e.g. not a toy) from a range produced in Indonesia by local artists, communities and craftsmen. All raw materials are sustainable and legal.

http://www.arushafairtrade.com/men/134-pan-pipes.html

Penguin Rucksack and Pencil Case

2011-05-24T11:19:00.003+01:00

This is perfect for any little person you know who may be starting school or playschool - delightful hand-embroidered cotton rucksack and matching pencil case set. Made at St. Mary's, India, who offer computer literacy classes for their employees' children and so improve their prospects for the future.

In 1954, a group of Dominican nuns arrived in Ahmedabad to start a hospital. Ahmedabad was an industrial city, producing textiles, but when the mills began to close many men lost their jobs and women became the sole earners. As a result, the nuns organised a sewing/embroidery centre where women use traditional skills to make fair trade handicrafts. The women at St Mary's also have access to medical help, savings schemes, cooking classes and scholarships for children.

Available for next day despatch from our online store

Perfect gift for a Cat Lover

2011-05-22T10:12:00.001+01:00

There are as many words to describe the traits of the cat as there are words to describe their owners. Usually the descriptions go something like, "graceful and agile", or, "so cute". Others will try to define their personality such as, "independent and loners", or " stubborn and strong willed".

Whether we have described your cat or your favourite cat owner we think you will love this fair trade terracotta cat which is also a tealight holder. At only €10.95 you will also like the price.

http://www.arushafairtrade.com/living-room/160-william-tealight.html

World Day for Cultural Diversity

2011-05-21T09:31:00.018+01:00

May 21st is World Day for Cultural Diversity. UNESCO introduced this day to provides us with an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to learn to live together better.

Our range of books introduce children to cultures and traditions from all over the world, encouraging them to see life from different perspectives.

Special Offer – 50% Off Tulip Bell Bag

2011-05-20T10:55:00.004+01:00

This large slouch shoulder bag is now HALF PRICE and is available in brown, black or grey. The main body is made of soft suede with leather detail and leather shoulder straps, magnetic catch to close. It is fully lined with cotton and includes an internal zip.

Meditation Chimes

2011-05-18T11:44:00.007+01:00

8 highly polished steel bars are suspended above a sustainable mahogany wood platform. When the keys are struck with the included beater they create a light, crisp tone that continues to resonate well after the note has been played. The full octave of notes allows melodies to be played on the instrument.

Our range of instruments are produced in Indonesia by local artists, communities and craftsmen. Producers represent the five main religions and both male and female craftsmen are employed through the various stages of the production process. This helps to further maintain a social balance in these areas.

Producers are allowed to dictate prices and these prices are above local averages. In return they supply high quality products and there is an attention to detail that surpasses products made under factory or other mass-production conditions. This rewards the high quality craftsmen and encourages other importers to work with the high quality artists above other producers. Child labour is not used but the part-time training of older youths is encouraged. These trainees remain in education and they receive a full wage for the time that they spend working. This will ensure that they have a career to follow upon leaving school (if they choose to do so) and will help to sustain the community for successive generations.

All raw materials are sustainable and legal. No poached or endangered woods are used. No toxic or harmful materials are to be used in the production process and any waste created must be disposed of in an ecologically sound manner.

Available in our online store

Wooden Train

2011-05-16T11:35:00.014+01:00

Forget shiny plastic gadgets and have a look at this beautifully simple and superbly hand-crafted toy. Nobody should see their childhood out without at least one train and this pull-along wooden train is made by an organisation in Thailand which preserves traditional craft skills. The carts are linked with cord while the engine section of the train can be taken to pieces. When we display this toy at a craft fair the children in the room are instantly attracted to it. Made in Thailand by Thaicraft.

Available to purchase from our online store

Peruvian Silver Ring

2011-05-13T23:33:00.000+01:00

An excellent gift for those who love to accessorise, this adjustable sterling silver ring comes with three different stones to co-ordinate with different outfits. One each of turquoise crisocola, purple spondillus and orange spondillus gemstones. Handmade in Peru by Allpa artisans getting a fair deal.

Price reduced to €32.20

Click here to view in our store.

Carved Coconut Karimba

2011-05-12T00:14:00.000+01:00

This coconut karimba is also known as an Mbira. A highly polished, half coconut shell is used to create a sound chamber that amplifies the 7 notes suspended above. This wonderfull instrument is carved with a gecko design. It costs €18.90.

Our range of instruments are produced in Indonesia by local artists, communities and craftsmen. Producers represent the five main religions and both male and female craftsmen are employed through the various stages of the production process. This helps to further maintain a social balance in these areas.

Special Offer to Celebrate World Fair Trade Day

2011-05-11T12:18:00.007+01:00

We are celebrating World Fair Trade Day and from now until 31st May 2011 we are giving a 20% discount to all customers who make a purchase in our online store.

There is no minimum purchase and this is a further discount against lots of products which have already been reduced in price.

To avail of this discount, begin by browsing our store at http://www.arushafairtrade.com/. Make your selections and click to add them to your cart. Then click on the "CART" button to the left of your screen. You will see a box where you can enter the discount code . The discount code is FAIRTRADE (Please make sure you click on the CART button and not the CHECKOUT button.)

FAIR TRADE / UNFAIR TRADE

2011-05-11T11:16:00.000+01:00

We found this cartoon on http://www.developmenteducation.ie It reminds us of the theme for World Fair Trade Day; Fair Trade your world which hopes to encourage private consumers to include Fair Trade in their shopping bag.

World Fair Trade Day 2011

2011-05-11T08:21:00.004+01:00

On 14 May 2011 millions of small producers, artisans, farmers and small-hold manufacturers, Fair Trade producers, traders and consumers will celebrate World Fair Trade Day.

This year World Fair Trade DAY has the theme “TRADE FOR PEOPLE – Fair Trade your world”

The theme encompasses the strong belief in the need to put people and the environment at the heart of trade and consumption, Trade for people means trade for sustainable development of local communities. More than half a century of Fair Trade has proven that trade can be a most efficient tool for poverty alleviation, trade can change lives and communities.

Fair Trade your world stands for private consumers to include Fair Trade in their shopping bag, for business to include Fair Trade in their supply and offices, for local authorities and national governments to include Fair Trade in public procurement in a strive for responsible consumption.

Further information is available here.

2011-05-10T23:54:00.002+01:00

Happy Mother's Day

2011-04-03T10:08:00.003+01:00

BEFORE I WAS A MOM

"Before I was a mom, I made and ate hot meals, wore unstained clothes and had quiet conversations on the phone.

Before I was a mom, I never worried about how late I went to bed because I could sleep in as long as I wanted.

Before I was a mom, I washed my face and brushed my teeth everyday.

Before I was a mom, I enjoyed a leisurely cup of coffee while reading the

morning newspaper on a Saturday morning.

Before I was a mom, I slept the whole night through.

Before I was a mom, my house was clean everyday and I didn't worry about whether or not my plants were poisonous.

Before I was a mom, I had never been puked on, pooped on, peed on, chewed on or pinched by little fingers.

Before I was a mom, I had complete control of my mind, thoughts and body.

Before I was a mom, I never held down a screaming child while doctors and nurses did tests or gave shots. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces because I couldn't stop the hurt.

Before I was a mom, I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

Before I was a mom, I never got gloriously happy over a toothless grin.

Before I was a mom, I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never was up in the wee hours of the night just watching a baby while it slept. I never knew that something so small couldn't effect my life so tremendously.

Before I was a mom, I never knew I could love someone so unconditionally and completely.

Before I was a mom, I never knew how satisfying it is to feed a hungry

child. I never knew how fulfilling it is to soothe a baby's cries.

Before I was a mom, I loved my mom, but didn't understand her.

Before I was a mom, I never knew the warmth, the joy, the heartache, the

wonderment, or the fulfillment of being a mom.

Before I was a mom, I never knew I would love being a mom."

- Sharon L. Twitchell

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

2011-03-29T18:10:00.001+01:00

Under €10:

This satin jewellery roll costs just €6.15 and is perfect for holding your jewellery when you are away. Traditional sari embroidery has been hand-stitched on the front. With two zipped compartments, one open pocket and padded ring roll inside. Made in India by Tara Projects

Fair Trade Producer Details

Tara Projects is a non-profit organisation based in Delhi serving some 25 community-based groups of artisans from all regions in North India. Tara's objective is to help craft workers to achieve self-sufficiency by providing income-generating opportunities and developing marketing skills. They have brought about major changes in these craft groups and their communities due to fair trade sales.

Under €20:

€13.95

Soft raw silk scarf.

100% Tussah silk. This scarf is available in a variety of colours.

Made by a fair trade project in Vietnam

To purchase Mother's Day gifts online please visit our store.

We have a lovely range of gifts for Mother's Day 2011

2011-03-29T15:02:00.001+01:00

Starting with gifts costing less than €20 our range is designed to suit every pocket. You can view our range of gifts here: http://www.arushafairtrade.com/30--mother-s-day

Tea Tasting!

2011-01-20T18:36:00.001Z

Four of Britain’s top chefs were asked to take part in a tea tasting session, watch the video to see the humorous results!

Over 20 million people in developing countries rely on the tea industry for their livelihoods, and although the issue of Fairtrade coffee has been given much publicity over past years, unfortunately the tea farmers have not been given the same exposure.

Winter Sale Now On

2011-01-20T18:16:00.001Z

Click to Visit http://www.arushafairtrade.com/ - Genuine Price Reductions

The X, Y, Z of Fair Trade and New Year’s Resolutions!

2011-01-12T14:25:00.000Z

X is for Xenium, a present given to a guest or stranger. Before Christmas I wrote about how when you give a fair trade gift you are giving twice. Every time you buy fair trade you are giving something back to the producer’s family.

Y is YOU: The Fairtrade movement is nothing without YOU. Yes that’s right, mission statements, values, and good intentions are all integral to the success of Fairtrade, but more so is support from consumers as well as producers. In buying Fairtrade goods you are becoming part of a chain which leads back to disadvantaged farmers, poverty stricken producers, and underprivileged communities.

Why not make it YOUR New Year Resolution to make a real difference to the lives of these people and to the welfare and sustainability of their communities by committing to Fairtrade and reflecting your support by buying ethically? It’s never been easier to get your hands on Fairtrade alternatives to your established favourites; from tea and coffee to clothing and home wares; make sure you buy what you believe in 2011.

And finally Z. We have come to the end of the alphabet but the Fair trade movement is far from ending. Fair Trade today is a truly global movement. Over a million small-scale producers and workers are organized in as many as 3,000 grassroots organizations and their umbrella structures in over 50 countries in the South. Their products are sold in thousands of World-shops or Fair Trade shops, supermarkets and many other sales points. The movement is engaged in debates with political decision-makers in the European institutions and international forums on making international trade fairer. On top of that, Fair Trade has made mainstream business more aware of its social and environmental responsibility. In short: Fair Trade is becoming more and more successful. As for our New Year resolutions we plan to grow and stock new products from countries such as Haiti and Zimbabwe.

It's time to conclude our A - Z of Fair Trade Shopping

2011-01-12T14:15:00.000Z

V is for Vegetarian

If you are a conscientious vegetarian or buying a gift for one then you will find something suitable in our section especially for vegetarians. All products in this department of our online shop are fair trade, are leather free and some are made of Tussah silk. Tussah, or wild silk, is made by gathering cocoons from the wild after the moths have emerged. In commercial silk production the moths are usually killed.

W is for Women.
Fair Trade is good for women. Inequality is still a serious problem in the world. We know this because 70% of the one billion people living on less than a dollar a day are women.

Women work 66% of the world’s working hours
While only earning 10% of the world’s income
Over 66% of the world’s 876 million illiterate people are women
More than 80% of the world’s estimated 40 million refugees are women and children
Women own less than 1% of the world’s property

Fair trade transforms lives and it is good for women. It gives them opportunities to work that would not otherwise be available. For women this means clean water, education and food for their families. We are very proud to say that the majority of the goods we sell are produced by women and we are very proud to be supporting the wonderful organisations which bring these goods to market.

According to the Fair Trade Federation, seventy percent of Fair Trade artisans are women, many of whom are the sole wage-earners in their homes. Unlike most jobs that women might hold in manufacturing where they are forced to travel great distances and work long hours in dangerous conditions, a woman’s participation in a Fair Trade cooperative is about more than just her production capacity. Fair Trade allows women to provide for their families, educate their sons and their daughters and strengthens communities.

U is for Umtha, in South Aftrica

2010-12-19T12:51:00.001Z

Umtha, in South Africa created this lovely charm bracelet. The charms are symbols from the life of Jesus.

Bringing light and hope to unemployed women in South Africa’s Cape Town region is what Cheryl and Dave Milligan are passionate about. That is why their organisation is called Umtha ‑ ‘ray of light’ in the local Xhosa language.

Umtha’s roots are modest. One rainy afternoon in 1991, Dave, himself unemployed, wandered into a craft shop. Picking up a few beads, he made a necklace for his wife Cheryl. Dave found new inspiration in this creativity and started making more beaded jewellery to sell in tourist areas. Before long, Cheryl joined him in the new venture and then they employed two Xhosa women to work with them. ‘As we started to see the potential for the business, God really gave us a heart for the poor and challenged us to make a contribution towards the restitution of a post-apartheid South Africa,’ says Dave.

Today Umtha employs 40 people. Cheryl explains, ‘It’s more than just production ‑ it’s about teamwork and providing sustainable incomes, while creating jewellery of world-class quality.’

Umtha’s vision is to release the potential in the hearts and minds of South Africans, helping them to overcome poverty and deprivation. It comes to fruition in people like Tabisa, who since joining the Umtha team six years ago has excelled in learning beadwork skills. She is now both a necklace maker and the office receptionist. The work provides her with regular income ‑ and also the support she has needed to cope with the death of her baby from pneumonia and the health consequences of having TB herself. ‘If Umtha wasn’t there, I don’t know what I would do,’ says Tabisa. Now she has new dreams for the future: ‘I would love to be married and I want to extend my house. I think it is possible – only God knows.’

T is for Traditions

2010-12-19T11:17:00.001Z

T is for Traditions. Christmas carols, decorating the tree, festive food and the giving of gifts that show you care - it’s these timeless and meaningful traditions that are some of the warmest, most wonderful aspects of Christmas. Fair Trade promotes traditional crafts and helps revive dying arts and skills, providing artisans with a livelihood, and revitalising craft communities. This Christmas you can start a wonderful new tradition, the tradition of giving fair trade gifts. Buying fair trade makes a a real difference to the lives of artisans and their families in the developing world.

A to Z of a Fair Trade Christmas and S is for Saint Mary’s, of Ahmadabad, India

2010-12-18T10:18:00.001Z

We have a couple of lovely Christmas Gifts from St. Marys.

Lined cotton bag with sequin and bead hand-embroidered design

St. Mary’s Mahila Shikshan Kendra, is a non profit Women’s Handicraft Organization run by the Dominican Sisters of the Rosary in Gomtipur, Ahmadabad since 1970. They are committed to the development of economically and socially marginalized women in Gomtipur, a slum pocket of Ahmadabad. St. Mary’s aims to give employment with fair wages to women of Gomtipur from minority social, cultural and religious groups. Working together as a group in the Centre the women develop a sense of community.

Hand-embroidered cotton rucksack and matching
pencil case set, for smaller children

St. Mary’s concentrates mainly on hand embroidery in cotton; using their indigenous craftsmanship, these women immigrants produce high quality mirror work and embroidery in traditional designs. Their products include cushion covers, letter boxes, bags, purses, bed spreads, table cloths and Christmas presents. By adhering to very high standards of quality control, they try their best to inspire in them a deep sense of self-respect and integrity of character, earning their own hard earned wages without any trace of pity or condescension, thus bringing them in touch with their own basic human dignity. Besides their rightful wages, all surplus profits or producer dividends are shared with the women.

The Sisters also have a dispensary, a maternity clinic and medical centre called ‘St. Mary’s Nursing Home’, they run health programmes, saving schemes, loans especially for educational and health purposes, a government recognised course for women in sewing, embroidery and design and also educational scholarships for their children. They ensure that the women send their children to school and educate them and avoid child labour. In many cases when the women are incapable of paying the fees, and educating their children especially the girls they help them by paying their fees etc.

We are on the last hurdle of our A – Z of a Fair Trade Christmas and today it is R

2010-12-17T10:40:00.000Z

R is for Ring and aren’t these rings lovely? They would make the perfect accessory for a Christmas outfit. At only €9.95 each they are also nice to your pocket. Both of these cocktail rings are made from freshwater pearls and semi precious chippings and would make a great accessory for a special occasion this summer. They are adjustable to fit most sizes.

These lovely Fair Trade rings are from Lotusfeet and are made in the Philippines. The co-operative producing this jewellery is made up of sixty women, and was specifically set up to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for families and communities displaced from their homes by a major hydro-electric project. Nearly 800 households were affected by the project.

Both rings are available for immediate despatch from Arusha Fair Trade.

R is also for Recycled

2010-12-17T10:35:00.000Z

R is also for Recycled and there is a wide variety of fair trade goods available made from recycled goods. For example, you can buy recycled bowls, jewellery, pens, pencils and even laptop bags from recycled rubber.

We are particularly fond of these two bowls made in India from recycled aluminium. Either would provide a great talking point as a gift at a Christmas dinner party.

Square Platter made from recycled aluminum

Black and White Swirl Dip Tray alsofrom recycled aluminum

Christmas Delivery Deadlines

2010-12-16T19:02:00.000Z

To ensure delivery in time for Christmas 2010 your order should be placed before the following times/dates:

Dublin 10am 24th December

Rest of Ireland including N.I. Midday 20th December

Great Britain 10pm 18th December

All orders, including those for the rest of the world, will continue to be despatched as they are received, however if order is received after the relevant deadline it may not arrive until January 2011.

Q is for quality.

2010-12-16T12:02:00.001Z

Fair Trade Produces Quality

Workers in developing countries are just like you and I, when we know that our work is appreciated and fairly remunerated we take more interest in what we are doing. Quite simply, when artisans know they receive a fair, living wage for their work, they can focus on their work, focus on creativity, focus on good materials, and focus on quality.

Fair trade produces quality, empowers producers, fuels creativity and fosters respect and peace. Producers have a quality of life that would not be possible for them under the free trade system.

P is for Picture Frame.

2010-12-15T12:17:00.004Z

We have a number of lovely fair trade frames suitable for a Christmas Gift. Send us a photo of your family and we will put it into your chosen frame before gift wrapping and sending to your loved one. There is no charge for this service. Order the frame, tick the gift wrapping box at check out and tell us in the comment box that you will be sending on a photo, then email the photo to info@arushafairtrade.com

This service applies to digital photos only, please make sure your image fits the 4 x 6 frame.

Continuing our A to Z of a Fair Trade Christmas and we are on the letter O

2010-12-14T14:36:00.002Z

O is for organic. Why not give a very conventional Christmas gift an ethical twist with these fairly traded black beauties. They are made of organic cotton and we have just reduced the price by 25%

These socks were produced by Craft Aid in Mauritius, a non profit-making organisation dedicated to the welfare of disabled people. It was created in the year 1982. Their main objective is to provide paid employment to the disabled and rehabilitate them in society. The workforce includes a significant number of mentally and physically handicapped persons as well as mute and deaf persons.

“Cotton is one of the most pest-prone crops grown, and in parts of the world like West Africa, where the cotton is rain-fed (not irrigated), chemical pesticides and insecticides account for much as 60 per cent of the farmer's costs. But the loss in fertility of his intensively farmed soil, the subsidies paid in other countries that price him out of the market and the high risk of pesticide poisoning, mean that even if the farmer can sell his cotton he is unlikely to make a profit. He then ends up spiralling into debt as money is borrowed at usury rates to start the process all over again in the next growing season.

None of that information is new. Ethical consumers have for some time now been aware of the environmental and social costs of cotton production, and increasingly recognise that organic cotton is a sustainable alternative.

Organic cotton eliminates the need for expensive agrochemical inputs, which immediately cuts costs and demands a higher market price, meaning the farmer stands a better chance of working his way out of poverty. It is this knowledge that has driven the demand for organic cotton, now available in some product lines on most of the high street”. (www.theecologist.org/blogs_and_comments 7th December 2010)

A – Z Guide to a Fair Trade Christmas – N is for Nativity Set

2010-12-10T13:27:00.000Z

One of our Fair Trade Nativity Set would certainly be a talking point in your home this Christmas. Our set from Madagascar depicts very tall elegant figurines beautifully hand carved. While the set from Peru contains a llama instead of a sheep. Or choose a set from Indonesia where the hand painted characters are wearing native Indonesian dress.

They come in different sizes so you can choose which would be most suitable for you Christmas Crib scene. You can purchase them online and p rices start at less than €20.

A – Z Guide to a Fair Trade Christmas – M is for Music

2010-12-09T12:12:00.000Z

One of the reasons we decided to do this A-Z of Christmas on our blog was to let people know about the wide variety of fair trade goods there are available. One thing I don’t think people would associate with Fair Trade is musical instruments. We have a range of percussion instruments, from a lovely Gecko Clacker for little hands to a full size Jammer Djembe.

They are all made in Indonesia by local artists, communities and craftsmen. Producers represent the five main religions and both male and female craftsmen are employed through the various stages of the production process. This helps to

further maintain a social balance in these areas. Producers are allowed to dictate prices and these prices are above local averages.

A – Z Guide to a Fair Trade Christmas – L is for Light

2010-12-08T12:12:00.006Z

Candles certainly do their part in creating a Christmas atmosphere in your home. This Tree Tealight is very popular this year and would look lovely in your home.

It is made of polished aluminum by Noah’s Ark in India. You can purchase it online from our store here.

A – Z Guide to a Fair Trade Christmas – K is for Kenya

2010-12-07T13:06:00.004Z

Tigers Eye & gold plated triangle necklace

We have a range of traditional, ethnic fair trade fashion jewellery which is skilfully produced by physically challenged artisans in

Kenya, who would otherwise be homeless and destitute.

Their fair trade jewellery collection has received international acclaim for their exclusive African designs and excellent finishes and demonstrates fantastic fair trade crafts.

A – Z Guide to a Fair Trade Christmas – J is for Jewellery Box

2010-12-06T14:06:00.000Z

A Jewellery Box makes a nice gift for Christmas and there is a lovely fair trade selection available starting at just €19.95. Made in India you can choose from boxes made from saris, or silk and skilfully decorated with embroidery. They are all beautifully finished inside. A good reason for purchasing fair trade items like this is to create a demand which helps to keep ancient craft skills alive within the communities of indigenous people.

A – Z Guide to a Fair Trade Christmas – I is for Indonesia

2010-12-03T12:24:00.000Z

Indonesia has seen great turmoil in recent years, having faced the Asian financial crisis, the fall of President Suharto after 32 years in office, the first free elections since the 1960s, the loss of East Timor, independence demands from restive provinces, bloody ethnic and religious conflict and a devastating tsunami.

There are a number of brilliant fair trade projects operating in Indonesia, usually supplementing the income of subsistence farmers. This lovely nativity set, made by Pekerti, is guaranteed to be a talking point in any home this Christmas, the bright hand- painted colours on these six wooden figures are inspired by the Dayak traditional dress. Pekerti (Indonesian People's Folk-Art and Handicraft Foundation), is a social development agency formed in Jakarta, 1975. Its mandate is to supplement the incomes of subsistence farmers and rural people through the development and sale of traditional fair trade crafts and folks art. Pekerti trains and gives assistance to the producers to market domestically. They also give services in marketing, especially in export marketing, which cannot be done by the producers themselves. Pekerti also gives the producers an advanced payment for the producers and also a credit scheme for investment.

Our range of musical instruments is also produced in Indonesia by local artists, communities and craftsmen. Producers represent the five main religions and both male and female craftsmen are employed through the various stages of the production process. This helps to further maintain a social balance in these areas. Producers are allowed to dictate prices and these prices are above local averages. In return they supply high quality products and there is an attention to detail that surpasses products made under factory or other mass-production conditions. This rewards the high quality craftsmen and encourages other importers to work with the high quality artists above other producers.

Child labour is not used but the part-time training of older youths is encouraged. These trainees remain in education and they receive a full wage for the time that they spend working. This will ensure that they have a career to follow upon leaving school (if they choose to do so) and will help to sustain the community for successive generations. All raw materials are sustainable and legal. No poached or endangered woods are used. No toxic or harmful materials are to be used in the production process and any waste created must be disposed of in an ecologically sound manner.

We’re up to H in our A – Z Guide to a Fair Trade Christmas and we’d like to introduce you to Hatti Bags from Nepal.

2010-12-02T13:01:00.001Z

All of our products come with wonderful stories of the people making them but the story of Hatti Bags is one of our favouries. These beautiful bags, which can be bought in our online store, are made by girls rescued from Indian circuses by the Esther Benjamins Trust.

Shoulder Bag with embroidery
inspired by Sari prints

Thumbprints on documents that the naïve parents could not read condemned their children to an 18-hour per day, seven days per week routine for the next 10 to 15 years. Inadvertently they were also handing over their children to a life of malnourishment, harsh training schedules and vicious beatings by the circus staff. Frequently the girls would also be sexually assaulted.

Bold rescue teams were sent to confront the circus owners and use all legal means on the ground to secure freedom. This high-risk process led to the release of over 200 trafficking victims during the period 2003 - 2006. The youngest children who return from the circuses can mostly - and safely - be reunited with their parents and join school at an appropriate age.

Buckled leather bag.

Available in Black or Tan

For the older girls who might lack the academic ability or interest in joining formal education there is a skills training project to help them get back on their feet and gain an independent life, however, it has became evident that securing jobs for the returnees is virtually impossible due to the social stigma associated with being trafficked. So in 2005, instead of trying to secure outside employment for the girls the EBT, in conjunction with Hatti Trading (UK) set up a handbag production centre under Fair Trade conditions to provide a realistic economic alternative to being re-trafficked.

In June 2007, Hatti took on responsibility for the production centre and set up an independent private, but not for profit, company called Hatti Production Pvt Ltd. They still work in exactly the same way, providing training and jobs for young women rescued by The Esther Benjamins Trust and the charity is still close on hand to look out for the girls’ welfare, but the production centre is now an independent entity.

What wasn't anticipated at the time was the impact it would have on the girls who worked there; suddenly, they transitioned from being ‘charity cases’ to independent professional young women working for a foreign organisation. Their self esteem went through the roof; finally they could hold their head up high when asked what they do. At the same time there was a move to a new premises so the locals had no knowledge of what they had come from, and the girls could at last truly move on from their past.

Hatti started with 8 girls, there are now 17, plus Ritu, the Production Centre Manager, Shanti, the House Mother and two security guards. Some girls are now living with relatives locally and there has even been a wedding recently. The main difference now is that the girls are empowered to make their own choices and have the confidence to do so. You might be interested in reading more about the Esther Benjamins Trust and their work with children and young girls rescued from Indian circus: http://www.ebtrust.org.uk/

G is for Gifts. The A - Z Guide to a Fair Trade Christmas

2010-12-01T13:06:00.003Z

G is for Gifts. This Christmas why not start a new tradition and buy fair trade gifts for your family and friends? For hundreds of thousands of people, Fair Trade means the difference between a hand-to-mouth existence, and being able to plan for the future.

There are some misconceptions that buying fair trade means sacrificing quality. This is not the case. Fairly paid artisans take pride in their work. Goods are often handmade, which translates into closer attention to detail and in the end higher-quality products.

Fair Trade means fair wages, safe working conditions and long-term, stable business partnerships for disadvantaged artisans and producers. It also offers the comfort of knowing that there was no child labour involved in your purchase. Your purchase makes a difference.

At Arusha we offer beautiful Fair Trade certified gifts; arts and handcrafts from the world's artisans. Why not try our gift selector?

A – Z Guide to a Fair Trade Christmas – F is for Friendship

2010-11-30T12:46:00.012Z

F is for Friendship and our Friendship Bowl makes an ideal Christmas present for someone you are close to. Outstretched arms envelop this lovely polished alluminun bowl, perfect for sharing fruit or treats

The bowl is made by Noah’s Ark in India. Noah's Ark was established to provide welfare and better living conditions for very poor artisans in the villages of Moradabad, India. Besides fair wages and business support, Noah's Ark provides life insurance, medical and a facility for child education. Through their profits, they are building a school to provide free education to the children who work in the fields of Moradabad. Noah's Ark is also associated with Indian Society of Deaf and Indian Every Home Crusade. Noah’s Ark has recently joined IFAT, the International Fair Trade Association, and currently, over 90% of their sales are to IFAT members. Noah’s Handicrafts and Welfare Society provides free nutrition, medical services and basic education for artisans and their families. Thirty-five artisan groups, representing 280 full-time artisans are working with Noah’s Ark.

Noah’s Ark seeks to enable artisan groups to become established enough to purchase their own machinery and raw materials. These groups can then continue to market and export their handicrafts through Noah’s Ark. As the businesses become more self-sufficient, Noah’s Ark takes on new families. Since their inception, about 20 workshops have become independent.

These bowls always selll out quickly and are available to purchase online.

A – Z Guide to a Fair Trade Christmas – E is for EMA

2010-11-29T11:03:00.002Z

EMA or the Equitable Marketing Organisation is based in Kolkata in India. EMA has been trading fairly for over 30 years. Production takes place at a Development Centre on the outskirts of Kolkata, where almost 200 artisans work, 30 of whom are disabled. The artisans are provided with food and lodging and work in a safe environment from Tuesday to Saturday. They make our leather document wallets which are available in black and red.

The 'shanti' or goat leather comes from Chennai in India. When EMA receives the raw material it is examined thoroughly for its thickness, smoothness and most importantly for tick marks. The leather is then cut, the design embossed, painted, glazed, stitched, lined and lacquered to prevent fading by sunlight. The result is lovely soft leather which is beautifully finished.

The document bag, available in either black or red, is decorated with a 'holding hands' design. There is ample room to fit your A4 documents and folders and all the important features such as inside pockets and mobile phone pocket have thought of.

You can purchase them in our online store

Today in our A – Z Guide to a Fair Trade Christmas it is D for dinner.

2010-11-28T13:10:00.002Z

Christmas dinner is a very important part of the family’s celebrations and wouldn’t it be nice to serve it on a fair trade table cloth?

Our Snowflake Table Linen Dining Set is hand-woven and gives you all the table linen you need for a seasonal spread. The full-size cotton tablecloth comes with 6 placemats and 6 napkins.

This table linen is made by The Tamilnadu Handloom Weavers Co-operative Society. Co-optex was established in 1935 and is a state government organisation which co-ordinates the work and sales of thousands of handloom weavers in Tamil Nadu. It ensures that the weavers receive a fair price for their work.

This might also make a nice gift and we deliver to Ireland, Britain and Worldwide.

It is C today in our A – Z Guide to a Fair Trade Christmas.

2010-11-27T12:34:00.002Z

C is for Children and Child Labour. Over 158 million children aged 5-14 years are engaged in child labour in developing countries. (Source UNICEF). According to the United Nations, 126 million of them are occupied in the worst forms of labour affecting their health or education, e.g. in mines, with chemicals and pesticides in agriculture, or with dangerous machinery. Of these, 50 million work in Sub-Saharan Africa alone. There is an important distinction to be made between a child being forced into labour and a child's willing participation in work. Helping with the housework or in the family business, or earning pocket money during school holidays are all positive steps in a child's development. These forms of work provide children with valuable skills and experience. The work done by a child is not considered labour if it doesn't harm their health, interrupt their education or hinder their personal development.

Most of us are consumers of some products tainted by child labour. It could be the cotton in your table linen or clothes, chocolate with origins in the Ivory Coast, jewellery, hand-knotted carpets from India, your iPod, footballs from Pakistan, that cup of coffee in your local cafe....

If we do not care whether or not the products we purchase are made by child labour, governments will continue to avert their eyes from the plight of these children. So how are we to avoid the trap of benefiting from the labour of children? One answer to this problem is to buy fair trade products this Christmas.

Organizations accredited by the World Fair Trade Organisation who buy Fair Trade products from producer groups either directly or through intermediaries ensure that no forced labour is used in production and the producer complies with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and national / local law on the employment of children.

The A – Z Guide to a Fair Trade Christmas - B is for Books

2010-11-26T12:04:00.023Z

We are on to B in our A – Z Guide to a Fair Trade Christmas and B is for Books

B is for Books, in particular books for children, they make a great Christmas Gift and we have a lovely selection. Our books celebrate diversity . They introduce children to cultures and traditions from all over the world, encouraging them to see life from different perspectives.

Our favourite is called My Granny Went to Market. From Kenya to Mexico to Tokyo in one day you fly away with Granny and count with her from one to ten as she spins around the world on an unforgettable shopping trip. This colourful, rhyming story is followed by a counting page for reinforced learning. This book is suitable for children aged 3 to 7 years.

We have books for older children too and the old favourites like Pirates and Princesses are also there.

The A – Z Guide to a Fair Trade Christmas

2010-11-25T12:43:00.000Z

Today, we are going to begin our A – Z Guide to a Fair Trade Christmas and we are going to kick off with A for Asha.

Asha Handicrafts who are based in Mumbai in India are a wonderful example of Fair Trade Organisation and produce a wonderful selection of goods suitable for Christmas Gifts. You can choose fair trade gifts such as a shopping bag for Mother made from camel leather or a carved spectacles holder for Dad. (The spectacles holder was a surprise best seller last year and we are adding another design in the next few days.)

Asha have been practicing Fair Trade since 1975, even before the concepts of Fair Trade became popular abroad. Asha in Sanskrit means 'hope' and Asha have brought hope by providing a marketing outlet to the individual craftsmen. Asha is an association of voluntary businessmen dedicated to helping craftsmen, financially, ecologically and spiritually though its welfare centre and interrelated programs. The team of Asha welfare workers are stationed at different producer groups and cooperatives and move closely with them and their family sharing skills, extending medical help and education. Technical training is also provided to increase efficiency and productivity to encourage the growth and development of cottage industries.

You can view our selection of products from Asha here.

Velvet Accessories to complete your Christmas Party Outfit

2010-11-24T14:17:00.002Z

Velvet is certainly making a revival this year and will feature strongly on the Christmas Party scene. If the velvet dress is not for you but you would like to give a nod to the trend then simply take on velvet with a pair of gloves, a lovely soft scarf or a tactile handbag.

Our rich velvet handmade bags start at €23 and are available in Midnight Blue, Chocolate, Red and Grey/Green. We also have scarves to match, which will really complete an outfit. They also make an excellent Christmas Present.

A fair trade organization working with producers in Vietnam, as part of their poverty alleviation program, produce our beautiful fair trade velvet scarves and pom-pom bags. The organization comprises of more than 40 producer groups, most of who belong to ethnic minorities, some have disabilities believed to have been caused by the use of Agent Orange in the Vietnam War, teaching them the practices of fair trade and ensuring that they earn fair wages.

Please view in our online store for further information.

Handmade Christmas Cards that make a difference

2010-11-23T13:57:00.001Z

We have some special Christmas Cards on sale in our online shop this year. It is disadvantaged women that benefit most from these enterprises which enable them to earn a sustainable living.

From the Philippines we have a set of three handmade paper cards hand-decorated with dried flowers, leaves, sequins, gems and metallic thread. The cards are made by Salay Handmade Paper Industries is a family-owned business that started in 1987 with the objective of providing a sustainable livelihood for the people in the local area. The business currently has three production sites housing the fair trade paper production, the fair trade craft workers and an admin/sales office. Several workers work from home on a piecework basis. There are over 200 employees, the majority women.

We have a set of four cards is made entirely by hand, and that includes the paper, by skilled Nepali crafts people in the heart of the Himalayas. The craftspeople, most of whom are female, are employed by GPI, a company set up in 1984 with a loan from the World Bank. Originally, it made paper from lokta for the local market. In 1988 it began trading with Body Shop and its market was exclusively exported for some years. It also began using more environmentally-friendly raw materials (waste cotton from garment factories and waste paper from local businesses), because lokta use was linked to deforestation. Employees have grown from about 20 to over 100 (80% women), all in permanent jobs. Products are made from a variety of raw materials including cotton rags, waste paper along with banana tree stems, water hyacinth and jute.

We have another set of four cards, this time from Bangladesh, and they are also handmade. They are made by Eastern Screen Printers who are part of Prokritee. Prokritee has been working in Bangladesh since 1972, starting and operating small cottage industries in rural areas around the country. These include Action Bag and Eastern Screen Printers. There are about 700 people (about 95% are women) who are involved in making a variety of handicrafts and they strive to develop unique products.

The name 'Prokritee' means 'nature' in Bangla. The organisation aims to create employment for disadvantaged rural women. It tends to work with women who are head of their household (often widowed), and who are landless, with few or no assets. It sets up and runs cottage industries in rural areas as well as providing marketing and design assistance to 9 enterprises. The aim is that the groups become strong enough to become independent of Prokritee.

You can buy your Christmas Cards here: http://www.arushafairtrade.com/21-christmas-cards

Fair Trade Cocktail Rings

2010-07-06T18:18:00.000+01:00

Aren’t these rings lovely? At only €9.95 each they are also nice to your pocket. Both of these cocktail rings are made from freshwater pearls and semi precious chippings and would make a great accessory for a special occasion this summer. They are adjustable to fit most sizes.

These lovely Fair Trade rings are from Lotusfeet and are made in the Philippines. The co-operative producing this jewellery is made up of sixty women, and was specifically set up to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for families and communities displaced from their homes by a major hydro-electric project. Nearly 800 households were affected by the project.

Both rings are available for immediate despatch from Arusha Fair Trade.

It's T-shirt Weather, Hip Hip Hooray!

2010-05-27T11:02:00.003+01:00

The sun has got his hat on and it’s finally T-shirt weather. Your best option for keeping cool on a lovely warm day is a cotton t-shirt but it is also important to feel good about the clothing you are wearing and I would like to tell you a little about cotton, the ladies tops we stock at Arusha, and our producers.

Cotton is crop with a very troubled history

Cotton is obtained from plants native to tropical and subtropical climates. After blooming, seeds appear inside a capsule full of fibres; when ripe, it opens to form the boll. Farmers pick these bolls and remove seeds from them by a process called ginning; once seeds and other residues are removed, cotton becomes almost pure cellulose fibre and it is packed to enter the mill. A cotton mill is a place where fibres’ are carded to form a sliver so as to get them better aligned for spinning. Spinners produce the cotton thread which is then weaved into a textile; finally, the textile is ready to make clothing with it. Cotton is prone to pests, so it is the most sprayed crop in the world; taking only a 3% of cultivated land, it receives 25 % of all insecticides.

Similar to other colonial crops, like coffee or cocoa, cotton is the main source of income for several South countries, and is the only crop for large groups of farmers. Cotton is today the most widespread vegetal textile around the world.

Cotton has been used by humans for dressing themselves for thousands of years. For the last two hundred years the Cotton has been associated with human abuse and misery. Originally cotton farming in southern U.S.A. states was done, legally, by African slaves. During the industrial revolution in Britain child labour was common. The East India Company promoted the unjust cotton trade system that fuelled Gandhi's up rise in India.

The misery continues into the present day and recent television programmes depicting sweat shops in Asia have highlighted this.

Two-thirds of this cotton is produced in the developing world. For most cotton farmers in cotton-producing communities it is their only means of income and their only cash crop. In West Africa for example, cotton makes up to 40% of export income. Many cotton farmers also live in poverty – trying to survive on less than $2 a day. World prices on cotton have been unstable for a long time and farmers have been severely affected by the falling prices. Things are getting harder – not easier. Cotton farmers are under pressure from rising input costs of fuel, pesticides and insecticides. This means that few farmers can cover the cost of production, because they cannot pass these costs on when cotton is sold at such a low price. In real terms cotton farmers received five times more for a kilo of cotton in 1973 than they did in 2007.

Cotton farmers in the United States, the EU and China are highly subsidised leading to overproduction. When their huge volumes of cotton are dumped on world markets, prices are driven down and small scale cotton farmers cannot compete.

Cotton farmers in India have committed suicide because they were not able to meet their debt payments. To kill themselves they were drinking the poisonous chemicals they used to spray their crops. (Miles Litvinoff presents more details on reason #10 of his book "50 reasons to buy Fair Trade").

Working conditions are particularly miserable in Uzbekistan.

When the former Soviet Union diverted the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers to irrigate huge cotton fields (the so-called "white gold") in Central Asia it caused the Aral Sea to shrink dramatically almost disappear, not to mention heavy pollution from fertilizer run-off.

Fair Trade cotton brings hope.

Fairtrade provides a lifeline to farmers ensuring that they are paid a guaranteed minimum price for their cotton crop which has been calculated to cover the sustainable costs of production. They also receive additional money to invest in community projects –the Fairtrade premium - and it is for the farmer organisations to decide how they invest it, depending on what they need most - a school, health centre, equipment or a well. It also ensures that the farmer’s children attend school and that trafficked children do not work on the cotton farm. Buying or producing a product made from Fairtrade certified cotton contributes to fighting poverty and to sustainable development for some of the world’s most marginalised cotton farmers.

Generally the fairtrade label means that the cotton itself which is Fairtrade certified, not the finished fabric or item of clothing.

Our t-shirts are made by a wonderful organisation, Craft Aid in Mauritius

Craft Aid, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the welfare of the disabled people, was first formed in 1982. Their main objective is to provide paid employment to the disabled and rehabilitate them in to their communities. The workforce includes a significant number of mentally and physically handicapped people, including those who are mute and deaf. In addition they provide employment to the needy and poor people in their community.

Working alongside able-bodied employees, their disabled employees are producing a wide range of items such as textile products, greeting cards, photo albums and bookmarks. They are also involved in packaging of sugar and vanilla. The workshops were started with 5 disabled employees and today employ 175 people, of which around 50 are disabled, working in different departments of the company. Their declared mission states their commitment to quality as well as always adhering to the principles of fair and ethical trade.

There are four different departments at Craft Aid:

Textile Department
A variety of textile products are made in the Textile department. The flow of production starts from cutting and goes right through to finished products. They make products such as gloves, socks, T-shirts, trousers, skirts, night wear, jackets etc.

Most of the products are made of organic cotton and they were the first company in Mauritius to start using organic cotton. Their organic cotton-wear is certified by Control Union International, an independent Inspection organization for organic production method. They are also FLO certified. (Fair Trade Labelling Organization).
The Pressed Flower Department makes all sorts of greeting cards, book marks, photo albums, calendars and pot pourri. They use pressed natural flowers for the making the items. Some of the flowers used are cultivated at Craft Aid and the rest are purchased.
The Sugar Department where the activities consist of packaging of unrefined sugar such as standard demerara, dry muscovado, golden caster and special raw cane in a variety of retail packs of 500 grams and 1 kg. They also pack vanilla and spices.
The Screen Printing Department completes all work in the Pressed Flower and Textile Departments is completed with the use of manual printing machines. Even the preparation of screen such as engraving, gluing of mesh, preparation of colour are done in-house. The greeting cards used by Arusha when you ask for your purchase to be gift wrapped are made here.

Radha Canakiah works in the Flower and Wood Department is one among so many deaf people that work at Craft Aid and like others she is also trying to live her life happily although being disadvantaged. She joined Craft Aid in the 1980 and is still employed and is working in the flower section. At first, for her working at Craft Aid meant having friends like her and enjoying life as it is instead of being at home and being frustrated for not being a "normal person". She was doing coconut jewellery and found satisfaction in what she was doing. By joining Craft Aid and finding lots of friends in the same situation as herself, she feels much more confident. For Radha, Craft Aid is a memorable place as this was where she first met Rajesh, employed in the wood section, who is deaf just like her, but nothing prevented them from loving each other and now they are happily married and have a baby boy. For Radha being deaf no longer means feeling handicapped.

How the Fairtrade premium is changing lives for cotton farmers in Cameroon

2010-05-27T10:43:00.003+01:00

World Fair Trade Day is 8th May 2010

2010-05-08T00:21:00.000+01:00

To celebrate World Fair Trade Day we are offering a special 15% discount until the end of May 2010. To avail of this discount go to http://www.arushafairtrade.com/, make your selections, then click on CART and type the code FAIRTRADE into the voucher box.

Fair Trade Gifts for First Holy Communion and Confirmation

2010-04-13T19:59:00.001+01:00

It’s that time of the year when children are making their First Holy Communion and Confirmation. The little people are always happy to accept a few bob but it can be nice to give a present that will be a memento of their special day.

We have a range of affordable gift ideas starting from €10 and all fair trade. Our favorite is the lovely bracelet with symbols from the life of Jesus made by township women in South Africa. Or for a little boy how about the cross spelling the name "Jesus", handmade in Argentina? It comes in a gift box. We have necklace and bracelet sets with freshwater pearls, made especially for children, by a women's co-operative in the Philippines. These sets also make a great Bat Mitzvah present.

As always when you buy one of these gifts we send it with an information sheet telling you more about the producer. We can deliver the gift directly to you, and if you prefer we will gift-wrap your present and deliver it with a card to the important little person. We deliver to all parts of Ireland, Britain and indeed worldwide.

http://www.arushafairtrade.com/88-confirmation-first-holy-communion-gifts

St. Patrick would support Fair Trade

2010-03-17T00:11:00.006Z

Did you know that Saint Patrick was not Irish, he was actually British? He was born in the fourth century on the west coast of Britain and his father was a deacon. Some say he was born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland. Others say his own autobiography identifies his birthplace as an area near Cumbria.

There are many legends and stories of St. Patrick, but there is no doubt that he was captured from his home by an Irish raiding party when he was very young. He was taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep and pigs on the mountain side. (Tradition says this was in County Antrim but it is now believed that it was more like likely in County Mayo, on the west coast) Ireland at this time was a land of Druids and pagans. He learned the language and practices of the people who held him.

During his captivity, Patrick turned to God in prayer. He wrote "The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same." "I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain."

Patrick's captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britain, where he reunited with his family. He had another dream in which the people of Ireland were calling out to him and begging for his return. He began his studies for the priesthood and returned to Ireland after being ordained as a bishop. In Ireland he set about preaching the Gospel but met some opposition and hostility from tribes and their leaders. Nevertheless he successfully converted Chieftains and at least 120,000 ordinary people to Christianity. Two genuine writings of his have survived to this day, one of which is his autobiography. Legend has it that he died at the age of 120 on 17th March. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated worldwide on 17th March and is a national holiday in Ireland.

But what has this got to do with Fair Trade? Patrick was a victim of human trafficking and spent approximately six years of his life as a child slave living in appalling conditions. Over 1,500 years later an estimated 158 million children aged 5-14 years are engaged in child labour in developing countries. (Source UNICEF). According to the United Nations, 126 million of them are occupied in the worst forms of labour affecting their health or education, e.g. in mines, with chemicals and pesticides in agriculture, or with dangerous machinery. Of these, 50 million work in Sub-Saharan Africa alone. There is an important distinction to be made between a child being forced into labour and a child's willing participation in work. Helping with the housework or in the family business, or earning pocket money during school holidays are all positive steps in a child's development. These forms of work provide children with valuable skills and experience. The work done by a child is not considered labour if it doesn't harm their health, interrupt their education or hinder their personal development.

Most of us are consumers of some products tainted by child labour. It could be the cotton in your bed linen or clothes, chocolate with origins in the Ivory Coast, jewellery, hand-knotted carpets from India, your iPod, footballs from Pakistan, that cup of coffee in your local cafe....

If we do not care whether or not the products we purchase are made by child labour, governments will continue to avert their eyes from the plight of these children. So how are we to avoid the trap of benefiting from the labour of children? One answer to this problem is to buy fair trade products.

At Arusha Fair Trade the majority of our products are produced by members of the WFTO and we follow their standards when deciding which products to stock. The World Fair Trade Organisation has set 10 standards of Fair Trade. Here is number five:

“Standard Five: Child Labour and Forced Labour
The organization adheres to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and national / local law on the employment of children. The organization ensures that there is no forced labour in its workforce and / or members or homeworkers.

Organizations who buy Fair Trade products from producer groups either directly or through intermediaries ensure that no forced labour is used in production and the producer complies with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and national / local law on the employment of children. Any involvement of children in the production of Fair Trade products (including learning a traditional art or craft) is always disclosed and monitored and does not adversely affect the children’s well-being, security, educational requirements and need for play.”

The Fairtrade Labelling Organisation, which certifies fairtrade tea, coffee, chocolate, bananas, rice, wine etc, is committed to child protection. Fairtrade prohibits child labour which includes the worst forms of child labour and forced (bonded) labour. Fairtrade helps address the roots of child labour by offering producers in the developing world a fair price and stable trading deals.

I think if St. Patrick was alive today he would choose fair trade.

For all Mothers .......

2010-03-13T21:17:00.022Z