Connecting With Communities

Published March 16, 2009 @ 09:05AM PT

An important part of understanding Fair Trade is knowing the story of the producer or artisan that Fair Trade directly benefits. In my everyday work, I am exposed to the lives of those that Fair Trade affects, whether it be dealing with their products, speaking with them or sometimes visiting their communities. For a few weeks starting in May, Green America and Partners for Just Trade are hosting a Fair Trade Tour featuring two artisans who will travel from Peru to share their stories of how Fair Trade radically changed their lives.

The tour, Resonating Change: Connecting Communities Through Fair Trade, will bring the founder of Munay Rumi cooperative of jewelers, Evangelina Pizarro and Ayde Riveros, a member of the El Mercurio cooperative of knitters to communities across the United States to trade stories of Fair Trade.

The stories of Evangelina Pizarro and Ayde Riveros represent those of so many women around the world. Both were forced to leaving their homes in search of a better life -- to try to earn more money or escape violence –- yet still experienced great hardship. Through Fair Trade they found a way forward. By crafting and exporting jewelry and hand-knit toys through their own co-op, their quality of life has increased dramatically. Please join us as Ms. Pizarro and Ms. Riveros share their stories, and tell how dignified work has provided economic stability in their lives and social stability in their communities, which exemplify the impacts of Fair Trade.

The tour is passing through Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois so if you find yourself anywhere near the speaking tour, please do check it out. Two of the events will be at the Green Festival, where you will also be able to meet other Fair Traders along with other sustainably focused individuals and groups.

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Author

Zarah is the Operations Manager for the Global Exchange Fair Trade Online Store, a project of the international human rights organization, Global Exchange. Alongside her work with marginalized communities from all over the world to get their products into the international market, Zarah serves to educate and inform the public about a more just and sustainable trading system.