A_Z of Shopping Fair Trade - C is for Children and Child Labor

C is for Children and Child Labour. Over 158 million children aged 5-14 years are engaged in child labour in developing countries. (Source UNICEF). According to the United Nations, 126 million of them are occupied in the worst forms of labor affecting their health or education, e.g. in mines, with chemicals and pesticides in agriculture, or with dangerous machinery. Of these, 50 million work in Sub-Saharan Africa alone. There is an important distinction to be made between a child being forced into labour and a child's willing participation in work. Helping with the housework or in the family business, or earning pocket money during school holidays are all positive steps in a child's development. These forms of work provide children with valuable skills and experience. The work done by a child is not considered labor if it doesn't harm their health, interrupt their education or hinder their personal development.

Most of us are consumers of some products tainted by child labor. It could be the cotton in your table linen or clothes, chocolate with origins in the Ivory Coast, jewelry, hand-knotted carpets from India, your iPod, footballs from Pakistan, that cup of coffee in your local cafe....


If we do not care whether or not the products we purchase are made by child labor, governments will continue to avert their eyes from the plight of these children. So how are we to avoid the trap of benefiting from the labor of children? One answer to this problem is to buy fair trade products this Christmas.


Organizations accredited by the World Fair Trade Organisation who buy Fair Trade products from producer groups either directly or through intermediaries ensure that no forced labor is used in production and the producer complies with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and national / local law on the employment of children.

A-Z of Shopping Fair Trade - B for Books

B is for Books, in particular books for children, they make a great Christmas Gift and we have a lovely selection. Our books celebrate diversity . They introduce children to cultures and traditions from all over the world, encouraging them to see life from different perspectives.

My favourite is called Throw your Tooth on the Roof. From Kenya to Mexico to Tokyo children all around the world lose their baby teeth. This book explores what children in different parts of the world do with their teeth. This colorful, story is a great way to teach traditions and respect for other cultures while having fun learning. This book is suitable for children aged 3 to 7 years.

A-Z of Shopping Fair Trade - ASHA HANDICRAFTS

Today, we are going to begin our A – Z Guide to a Fair Trade Christmas and we are going to kick off with A for Asha.

Asha Handicrafts who are based in Mumbai in India are a wonderful example of Fair Trade Organisation and produce a wonderful selection of goods suitable for Christmas Gifts. You can choose fair trade gifts such as shopping bags for Mother or a carved spectacles holder for Dad.

Asha have been practicing Fair Trade since 1975, even before the concepts of Fair Trade became popular abroad. Asha in Sanskrit means 'hope' and Asha have brought hope by providing a marketing outlet to the individual craftsmen. Asha is an association of voluntary businessmen dedicated to helping craftsmen, financially, ecologically and spiritually though its welfare centre and interrelated programs. The team of Asha welfare workers are stationed at different producer groups and cooperatives and move closely with them and their family sharing skills, extending medical help and education. Technical training is also provided to increase efficiency and productivity to encourage the growth and development of cottage industries.