Make a Change, Sign the Shop Fair Trade Pledge

Take minute and make a commitment to signing the Fair Trade Pledge. Just in time for the holiday season you can shop and make a difference! Please consider signing the pledge. As stated by change.org,

"Fair Trade is an organized social movement and market-based model of international trade which promotes the payment of a fair price as well as social and environmental standards in areas related to the production of a wide variety of goods. The movement focuses in particular on exports from developing countries to developed countries, most notably handicrafts, coffee, cocoa, tea, bananas, honey, cotton, wine, fresh fruit, and so on.You can find ways to shop for fair trade items through a number of online resources."

Make a difference and commit to shopping Fair Trade this holiday season:
http://humanrights.change.org/petitions/view/shop_fair_trade

Contest Winner

Keep an eye out for us at events, you might just win a prize!

We are currently looking for new products, and have found some! Check out some of our upcoming possibilities...

Workers rights are not an issue of the past, but of the present as well...this is a great article discussing the treatment of workers in the US and beyond.

http://www.csrwire.com/csrlive/commentary_detail/2534-Modern-day-slavery-Here-there-and-everywhere

Artisan Spotlight

SHICALI

This innovative group, which creates beautiful ceramic and clay pieces, is composed entirely of Salvadorans with disabilities. At Shicali the men act as the workers (creating beautiful pottery and ceramics), while the women are the managers of the operation. The beautiful ceramic pieces are truly a testament to Shicali’s unique spirit and dedication to overcoming the obstacles that face disabled Salvadorans. Shicali is sponsored in part by a grant from the government of Spain which is trying to help change attitudes about the disabled in El Salvador.

Interested in learning more about Archbishop Oscar Romero and El Salvador? Check out this radio segment...People of Hope Crafts and Project Salvador is highlighted towards the end.
http://www.kgnu.org/cgi-bin/programinfo.py?time=1269388800

Cocoa farmers announce first programmes with Fairtrade Social Premium – Press Releases on CSRwire.com

Cadbury chocolate is making big changes for Fair Trade cocoa, check out this article!

Cocoa farmers announce first programmes with Fairtrade Social Premium – Press Releases on CSRwire.com

Spotlight on Artisans: Concepcion Quezaltapeque

This is one of the newest groups with whom People of Hope Crafts is working. This all-women’s cooperative works with textiles, particularly doing crochet-work. The women have been working together for 20 years and counting. They met just shortly after the brutal civil war in El Salvador and created a tight net working group that after time has also become an extended family. Crocheting together, overlooking a beautiful garden from their workspace, the women enjoy eachother's company and the sustainable work that provides them with fair pay, safe working conditions and a just way to provide a sustainable livliehood for their families.