Fair Trade, Christmas Gifts and Ornaments
How to Help End Global Poverty Buying Handcrafted Green Presents
Dec 4, 2008
Buy Fair Trade
Fair Trade Importers sell crafts created by artisans from impoverished regions of the world at a fair price, to provide steady income and prosperity for community co-ops. Businesses such as Ten Thousand Villages, a program of the Mennonite Central Committee, which recently was "recognized as one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" by the Ethisphere Institute and Forbes Magazine." They import to the United States and Canada from local co-ops in Developing Countries, where the artisans are encouraged to use eco-friendly practices, such as creating with recycled products and using organic plants and foods when applicable.
Ten Thousand Villages, a member of both the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT) and the Fair Trade Federation (FTF), according to their website, "both of which aim to improve the livelihood of disadvantaged people in developing countries and to change unfair structures of international trade" has been a world leader in the Fair Trade movement. The crafts and artwork that you can purchase from Ten Thousand Villages are produced by local co-ops that are monitored under strict guidelines to ensure not only the quality of the artistry, but also the economical sustainability for the community that produce them.
The myriad of middlemen of international, big business is cut-out and since Ten Thousand Villages is a nonprofit retailer, all the profits go to either the artisans themselves or are reinvested into providing for additional orders, including establishing new partnerships with artisans around the world. These profits benefit the local communities as a whole, providing funds for such needs as wells and schools—the co-ops are not only the producers, but co-owners of their own businesses.
Unique, Handmade Gifts
Beautiful works of art can be purchased to be given as gifts—like the handmade, multicolored shoulder bags made from recycled traditional Guatemalan skirts, costing $34.00, a similar price to regular, factory-made, department store purses. Each soft, cotton bag wears the distinctive fabric design from the local community where it was created. Or the Unity Candle holder hand-carved from Kisii, Kenyan soap stone—a graceful couple of figures dancing around a tea light can be enjoyed for a mere $20 dollars.
Nativity Sets from Around the Globe
Not can you buy Christmas and holiday gifts from Ten Thousand Villages, but you can find unique nativity scenes with interesting figurines. Examples are varied from all over the globe, such as Congolese Nativity set, 2"-7" tall, carved in Wenge wood, with Congolese features and decorative motifs, priced at $125.00 or the "Las Manos" ceramics Nativity designed by Artisan Felipe Enriquez from Peru for only $16.00 showing the Hands of God cupping the Peruvian Holy Family and animals in His hands.
Precious Ornaments for Your Tree
The sparkle on your tree can help your brother-in-need. What a great way to add meaning to your holiday decorations. Ten Thousand Villages imports Christmas ornament sets ranging from ceramic snowflake ornaments, packaged in pretty, handmade, blue boxes to exquisite angel ornaments crafted from local plant fibers—priced from $10.00 to 18.00.
Rejoice this season with gift giving and decor that truly communicates the meaning of Christmas; spread the message of "good tidings with great joy" through your pocketbook, by purchasing crafts from Fair Trade Importers such as Ten Thousand Villages.
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