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Erica Kyere of the Kuapa Kokoo Cooperative in Ghana, who visited Hull earlier this year |
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Making fairtrade clothing in India
(picture courtesy of Bishopston Trading Company) |
Tackling poverty with the perfect gift
Fairtrade outlets are expecting a sales boost this Christmas.
Erica Kyere knows better than most how choices in our Christmas shopping lists can bring benefits for farmers and artisans in the developing world.
She works for the Kuapa Kokoo Cooperative in Ghana which helps 45,000 farmers in 1,500 villages to collectively produce cocoa for the Divine Chocolate brand.
The chocolate is sold in shops and supermarkets across Britain.
The sales help to develop communities and build schools in the villages that produce the chocolate.
Erica, who visited Hull earlier this year as part of Wilberforce 2007, said: "Through fairtrade, producers can lift themselves out of poverty.
It's a good story coming out of Africa - it's a light in the darkness."
Fairtrade in Hull
Fairtrade products are those for which a 'fair' price is paid to the people who grow or make them, enabling them to live sustainable lives.
There are more than 60 outlets in Hull which sell, fairtrade products including cafés, restaurants, shops and supermarkets.
And they have plenty of great gift ideas too, including clothing, jewellery, ornaments and toys.
Pottery from Zimbabwe and soaps and lotions from Thailand are just some of the new products on sale this year at the charity-owned One World Shop, a fairtrade outlet in Waltham Street, (next to BHS).
And manageress Chris Church hopes Christmas shoppers will back fairtrade goods more than ever this year because of the Wilberforce 2007 commemorations.
"The Wilberforce year has highlighted modern-day slavery and very often that's linked to extreme poverty," says Chris.
"Fairtrade can often be the antidote to helping people out of poverty.
Time and time again we hear producers in developing countries telling us what a difference fairtrade has made and that their children are now going to school."
"Some of the bags we sell are made by women who were once trafficked to work in brothels in Bombay – but in making the bags they have been able to escape prostitution and start their own lives again."
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These women were rescued from the sex trade in India and Nepal and now make fairtrade bags.
(Picture from Hatti Trading Ltd) |
A fairtrade worker in Zimbabwe with pottery which is on sale in Hull
(Picture courtesy of Love Zimbabwe) |
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