The Fair Trade Store Blog

What is Toilet Twinning?

Toilet Twinning is a new and unique way of supporting people for whom good, clean, safe sanitation is a luxury – not a given.

Right now, more than 50 per cent of hospital beds in developing countries are filled with people who have an illness caused by poor sanitation or dirty water.

International charities Cord and Tearfund have linked up to bring you Toilet Twinning: a unique way to help transform lives in poor communities across the world.

So, for £60, you can twin your toilet at home, work or school with a latrine in the remote Giharo Commune of Rutana Province, Burundi.
And, if you want to know exactly where Giharo Commune can be found – you can go to Google maps and see your latrine’s location in all its glory!

The latrines in Giharo Commune have made a massive difference to people coming home after 15 years as refugees.
On their return, the people of Gilharo discovered that everything had been destroyed in the civil war. Amid the devastation were burnt out houses, the charred ruins of schools and healthcare centres, contaminated water sources, non-existent sanitation facilities and overgrown fields without a single crop to eat or sell.

With love, support and practical action, the people of Giharo Commune have been able to get back on their feet. Hundreds of households have received help in rebuilding homes and latrines, and men, women and children have been supported with health and hygiene education.

With every toilet twinned, more people in the developing world get a chance of a better life and a peaceful future. The purpose of writing this Blog is to help spread the message far and wide – Toilet Twinning is helping to flush away poverty!

Tearfund and Cord will use the money raised to help households have their own loo, enjoy better health, go to school and work, and fund other projects to alleviate poverty around the world.

Since the launch of Toilet Twinning in 2009, more than 1,600 latrines have been built in Burundi – providing safe loos for nearly 10,000 people!

When you twin a toilet, you receive a framed certificate of your toilet’s twin as a public declaration to all who visit your cloakroom that you think it’s out of order that 1 in 3 people in the world don’t have access to a decent loo.
The certificate contains a photo, the latrine’s location and its GPS coordinates so you can look it up on Google Maps.

Most of your donation will be spent on helping to bring safe, clean and hygienic sanitation to poor communities around the world.
Decent sanitation and hygiene education go hand in hand. For example, if you have somewhere safe to go to the loo, but don’t understand the importance of hand washing – or only have dirty water to wash your hands with – your latrine won’t reach its full potential to save lives.
So your gift will help build latrines, provide hygiene education and help poor communities access clean, safe water.

If you would like to take the next step, then please visit the Toilet Twinning website and find out exactly how you can be part of this initiative.

Please look out for more of my Fair Trade Blogs and don`t forget to leave your comments about this posting below – Paul.

You can see more images of Toilet Twinning on our Flickr photostream.

What exactly is BAFTS?

Okay, so you may have heard about BAFTS, but what exactly is the British Association for Fair Trade Shops?

Put simply, it`s a group of retailers, importers and wholesalers who, although independent, unite in a core purpose which is to bring about fundamental changes in the status of working producers through Fair Trade retailing, trading and campaigning and to contribute towards the building of greater trade justice and equity in the world.

BAFTS is a registered company, based in Oxford, England and has an elected Board of 5 Directors.

It is connected to the global Fair Trade Movement through its membership of the WFTO (the World Fair Trade Association) and the Trade Justice Movement. It recognizes this internationally agreed definition of Fair Trade:-

“Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers – especially in the South.”

All involved in Fair Trade accept that it has to include:-
- Paying fair prices to producers which reflect the true cost of production.
- Supporting producer organisations in their social and environmental projects.
- Promoting gender equality in pay and working conditions.
- Advising on product development to increase access to markets.
- Committing to long term relationships to provide stability and security.
- Campaigning to highlight the unequal system of world trade which places profit above human rights and threatens our environment.

BAFTS recognises the following sources as Fair Trade:-
- Fairtrade marked products.
- Members of the International Fair Trade Association (WFTO).
- Recognised importers and wholesalers.

Many of the products stocked by THE FAIR TRADE STORE come from BAFTS registered wholesalers and importers.
One such source is Just Trade, who were set up as a family-run business in 2006. They work hand in hand with small, Fair Trade projects primarily in the shanty towns of Lima, Peru, acting as mentor, educator, wholesaler and retailer, helping people in these marginalised communities develop their existing skills to design and make saleable products and we provide them with a long term route to market in the UK.
THE FAIR TRADE STORE has been trading with Just Trade for a couple of years now and are particularly proud of products such as this natural Huayruro seed bracelet, in Red, made by artisans of the Zoe Project in Lima.

You can buy from us with confidence, knowing that “together, we are helping to make a difference”.

If you have any questions about BAFTS, or the issues raised in this Blog post, please leave a comment below and I will get straight back to you – Paul.

Secret Diary of a Fair Trader

Well it`s not very secret, is it, if I`m blogging about my everyday exploits as a Fair Trade business owner?
But hopefully, the title has caught your eye and you want to learn more.

I`ve decided to develop this blog into something much more personal and social and share with you my thoughts, plans and experiences as the owner of a small, UK-based business. I`ll be explaining the trials and tribulations involved in dealing with Fairly Traded products from the developing world and offering them for sale to you, our customers.
This diary will be regularly updated and will cover things as they happen in real time – everything from selecting new ranges, dealing with importers, setting prices and what happens behind the scenes when a customer order comes through.
You`ll have it, “warts `n all”.
So why not come on this journey with me and learn what it`s like to be a Fair Trader in today`s uncertain economic times?
“Together, we can make a difference.”
Thanks for reading – will be back with you shortly.
Paul

Let me know what topics you would like covering in this diary by leaving your comments below.
You can also subscribe to this Fair Trade Blog by email or by RSS feed.

What do customers say about THE FAIR TRADE STORE?

It`s always pleasing to receive positive feedback from customers who have bought our Fair Trade gifts.
Here are just a few recent examples…..

“Thank you for such a fast and efficient service – my gorgeous handbag was received in only a few days and was securely, but attractively packaged.”
Sue Chamberlain, Evesham, Worcestershire.

“I enjoyed browsing your impressive range of Fair Trade jewellery with its clear layout, making my choice very straightforward.”
Tanya Rowan, Fareham, Hampshire.

“As a keen supporter of Fair Trade I must say your prices are very competitive and the free postage and packing offer with my order was a real bonus. Good luck with your future plans.”
David Brown, Wanstead, Essex.

“The site is easy to navigate and with the reassurance of secure payment methods at the checkout, we were more than happy to purchase from you.”
Paul and Terezah Henderson-Spoors, Lymm, Cheshire.

A big “thank you” to everyone who took the time and trouble to let us know their views on the service we provide.
Please click on the “What do you think” icon to leave a comment if you have some of your own feedback for us.

Paul Wolfenden is the owner of THE FAIR TRADE STORE and writes this Blog.
You can connect with Paul on Linked In.

Fair Trade Blogs

What would you like us at THE FAIR TRADE STORE to Blog about?
We feel its a good time to ask our customers, fans and followers to suggest some ideas about Fair Trade issues that you would like us to research and then post a Blog about. You can then leave comments and join in the discussion.

Previously in this Fair Trade Blog, we have covered topics such as Fair Trade jewellery from Kenya, Fair Trade Shopping Bags, the Amazon Rainforest, Recycled Magazine Paper and the uses it can be put to and 10 good reasons to support Fair Trade.

If you like the look of our Fair Trade Blog and would like to see more then please subscribe to us using the “Subscribe” tab in the top left hand corner of our Blog.
We look forward to hearing from you.
“Thank you for helping to make a difference.”

How do you make a Photo Frame out of Recycled Magazine Paper?

We have been getting great customer reaction to this amazing new recycled magazine paper photo frame, which has been handmade with great care in Indonesia.
Not only is it recycled and therefore environmentally friendly, but its Fair Trade too. It is attractive, colourful, strong and practical and will be a real talking point in any home.
The magazine paper is very skillfully folded and then constructed into a “squares” design to make this frame. It has a in-built folding stand at the back which allows you to stand it in a landscape or portrait position. There is a glass cover at the front to protect your pictures.
The product is part of a range of new recycled products we have recently introduced and includes a matching recycled magazine paper bowl. For many more eco-friendly products check out our Eco Store.

Based in Indonesia, the skilled team that make these products are a mixture of men and women, some of whom live in accommodation provided by the group. All workers are paid a fair wage and have fair working hours and conditions. Their wage is about 10% above the national minimum wage. Healthcare is also paid for.

PLEASE VISIT THE FAIR TRADE STORE`S ONLINE SHOP NOW

It has arrived – Fair Trade Jewellery from Kenya

Over the last few weeks we have been busy sourcing new ranges of Fair Trade jewellery and are able to announce that products from Kenya are now available from our online shop.
Paul Wolfenden, owner of THE FAIR TRADE STORE, commented “We are delighted with our new range, which has been skillfully crafted from waste cow bone in workshops in Kibera slum, on the outskirts of Nairobi. By purchasing these products you really are helping to make a difference to the lives of disadvantaged people in Kenya.”

The range includes Fair Trade bangles, bracelets, necklaces and earrings. A sanding machine is used to shape the bone and then the patterns are created with hot wax. The result is fantastic animal designs, including giraffe and zebra. Where required, recycled copper or linen is also used and the overall effect, we think, is quite stunning.
Our favourite is this this Safari Charm Necklace with Bone Animal Shapes. We hope you like them too.

PLEASE VISIT THE FAIR TRADE STORE`S ONLINE SHOP NOW

Take a fresh look at our Fair Trade Blog

Take a peek and see how our Fair Trade Blog has developed over the last few weeks.
It`s packed with great product shots, Fair Trade producer information, exclusive offers, promotions and discounts and all the latest news from the Fair Trade world.

What would you like us to write about or feature?
Contact us and let us know and we`ll do our best to publish something soon – we love to Blog!

In the meantime, we hope you like the regular Fair Trade Blog updates from THE FAIR TRADE STORE.

VISIT OUR ONLINE SHOP NOW.

THE FAIR TRADE STORE celebrates it`s first year in business

To thank our customers we are offering 15% off all purchases when you shop online with THE FAIR TRADE STORE, so why not support Fairtrade Fortnight and “help to make a difference”?

We have a great range of Fair Trade gifts and fashion accessories to choose from.

VISIT OUR ONLINE SHOP NOW

Beautiful new Fair Trade Jewellery

THE FAIR TRADE STORE has now taken delivery of a range of beautiful Fair Trade jewellery from a new producer in Bali, Indonesia.

These include 8 striking bangles and bracelets, which are both superb quality and offering great value for money. We think you will love them!

VISIT OUR ONLINE SHOP NOW