To meet the talented people who make the products you buy just click on the images below.
‘At the start, before Heiveld, there was no dream. We would just work, to get food on the table day by day. When we started Heiveld, a lot of things changed. If someone would have told me what we would achieve working here together, I’d have said he was joking. For me, the co-operative is very important for the community. People here now have a better lifestyle.’ Credit: Heiveld Co-operative
Issa Abo Kharbish is one local date farmer who is benefiting from market growth in the Medjoul date industry in Palestine – thanks in part to having joined a local farmers’ association. As a member of the association he has been able to receive training, lower his production costs and receive higher prices by reaching international markets through PARC, a local fair trade organisation. He has recently planted 200 new palms on his land outside Jericho which, when they start bearing fruit, will expand his total number of palms in production up to 500.
Leung Tola is a double polio survivor. She has been with CHA for 9 years, during this time she has become a teacher, sharing her skills with other members. ‘Before I arrived here I was feeling hopeless, but now I am incredibly happy.’
Machine is a jewellery artisan, who works at Bombolulu’s Jewellery workshop in Mombasa, Kenya.
Sandipan started working at Silence in 1992 after completing a training course at Jadavpur University. He has a wife and a son. About the work he says, “I like my work because I like to draw and because everyone around me is a friend. There would be no opportunity for me to draw if it was not for Silence.”
‘We get training in how to make terracing, and how to use organic fertiliser. Everything we do here is hard – nothing is easy. But I do it so that my children will see my example of how to work hard, and so that I will be able to leave them something when I’m gone…I’m very happy to talk to you. I’m much less shy since I became a member of ASOBAGRI’s board. If it wasn’t for the support of my group I wouldn’t be brave enough to talk to you!’
‘I’m happy to be a member of this group. The prices I receive are always higher than normal market prices but I get other benefits too; I’ve received grants that have allowed me to buy manure, a goat, and ten chickens…Life is better now. I’ve been able to help put my son through university study and with the extra income I now earn, I was able to help cover the cost of a fibroid operation I had three months ago.’
Thomson produces 1200kg of organic cashews annually, on his fully organic farm. Thomas is a member of FTAK, and his wife Mary, is part of an income-generating program for women. With the support of interest-free loans from FTAK’s fair trade social premium fund, the family has been able to buy and rear several goats. Prior to 1988, Thomson and his family lived in a ‘small mud hut’. The six of them now live in a modestly-sized two bedroom permanent material house and are in the process of adding extra bedrooms to it.
Following a separation from her husband, Minara had to start a new challenging life with her two children. Finding work with Biborton, Minara is now working as an artisan, producing paper and card products. Her daughter has graduated and her son has also completed an Honours’ course.
- We work with talented artisans and growers in 24 countries.
- In those 24 countries we work with 66 different trading partners.
- Those 66 trading partners work with over 500,000 talented artisans and growers.
Trade Aid 