World Fair Trade Day - May 14, 2011

A sewer at Bega Kwa Bega (Korogocho Slums, Nairobi, Kenya) makes over the shoulder bags from Kikoy scarves. This fair trade co-operative produces a variety of craft products including sewn items, bead work and necklaces, tie-dyed art and leather products.

Did you know that more than one third of the world's population live in poverty - that's 2.7 billion people worldwide living on $2.00 per day or less. For those of us in the Western world, it is a hard concept to grasp. For us, it is the price of one cup of coffee and with just that $2.00 those living in poverty have to pay for their acommodation, food, clothing and children's school fees. It's a pretty daunting way to live.

But on May 14th, 2011 you can help many of those living in developing countries by supporting World Fair Trade Day. Most people living in the developing world are small business owners from the woman selling her excess vegetables or crafts at the side of a dusty African road to groups of people working in fair trade co-operatives like Bega Kwa Bega in the Korogocho Slums of Nairobi. Here former drug users, alcohols and prostitues have been given an opportunity for a new life with training in life skills, business and craft skills. It is amazing to see the impact that fair trade has made on improving their quality of life.

This year's theme for World Fair Trade Day is "TRADE FOR PEOPLE - Fair Trade your world." The World Fair Trade Organization asks you to join with small producers world wide in celebrating small business by supporting fair and sustainable economies both locally and globally. Look for fair trade items when making your purchases in the grocery store or other shops. Support fair trade sales like Ten Thousand Villages that purchases globally from fair trade businesses. If we all started supporting fair trade businesses imagine what a better world we could create - one of equality and prosperity for all.

For more information on World Fair Trade Day check out the World Fair Trade Organization's website at www.worldfairtradeday10.org.

Bega Kwa Bega Fair Trade Group Offers Hope

It is amazing how simple things like life skills and craft skills can produce hope for those who previously had none. Bega Kwa Bega, a fair trade organization located in the Korogocho District of Mathare Slums in Nairobi offers much to those in need.

Employing between 40 and 90 men and women, the most important feature of their program are the life changes they offer former prositutes, drug users and alcohols who have found a new meaning in life and a way to support themselves and their families. Along with life skills, they learn essential business skills which provide them with dignity. Although the manager Ignatius did point out that a few of the people do relapse into their previous lifestyles, most people welcome the opportunity to create a better life for themselves.

At Bega Kwa Bega, a happy atmosphere ensues where women are gainfully employed in the sewing area making shoulder bags, dolls and stuffed animals. In the beading section, a group of four women chatted in Swahili as they prepared an order of 1,000 beaded cross necklaces for an order for Italy. Upstairs, the men were busy cutting leather and stitching sandels and shoes that comprise part of the standard school uniform for Kenyan children. They even use recycled tires for the soles of the sandels. The other necklace beading area and tie-dye sections were closed the day we visited.

Bega Kwa Bega belongs to the fair trade organization selling their products worldwide. in Japan, Italy, Spain, Canada, the U.S. and Germany. Providing much needed employment is truly the way for people, especially those living in the slums to enjoy a better quality of living. Please support fair trade organizations when making your shopping purchases.