What She Makes - Securing a Living Wage for Garment Workers

Last year saw the launch of the What She Makes campaign from Oxfam – with the goal of securing living wages for garment workers in developing countries. 

A living wage is one that supports the basic necessities of life - shelter, food and water, along with other essentials such as healthcare, education and a small amount to save towards the future.  Unfortunately the majority of garment workers continue to be trapped in poverty, disempowered and overworked; with few companies and major brands committed to making the changes towards a living wage.

In our shop we support fair trade enterprises that have been paying a living wage and allowing women and children to access education and basic health services – from Bangladesh, Thailand to Laos and as a far as Paraguay. They also provide a path for traditions and cultures to live on – and over the next few posts we will be sharing these fair trade products and stories with you.  

World Day Against Child Labour

Today is World Day Against Child Labour, which aims to bring together governments, local authorities, civil society actors such as Oxfam, along with businesses and consumers globally, to recognise and act against the forced child labour that continues to be commonplace in developing countries.

Our shop supports producers across countries where child labour has and continues to be widespread, such as Bangladesh and Vietnam. They include CAMACrafts, Mai Handicrafts and Siham Craftlink which all aim to give a voice to the children and women that are often marginalised by their community and forced into harsh labour conditions. The not-for-profit enterprises promote the skills and talents of their local producers, providing an environment where they can take time to create their handicrafts while also having the freedom for leisure, and recognising their work through a fair wage.

The result is a beautiful collection of hand woven baskets, bags, scarfs and kitchen crafts, many of which you can find in our shop in Bayswater.

World Fair Trade Day 2017

World Fair Trade Day is on again this Saturday, the 13^th of May. 

The theme this year is Agents of Change – showing how anyone, producers, those in the supply chain, policy makers, advocates and consumers can support fair trade and sustainable development. 

And while fair trade has seen its global influence and local successes grow over the last decade, there is still a long way to go in ending the social disadvantages faced by producers and communities in developing countries due to their marginalization and exploitation in the world marketplace.

Our Fair Trade WA Oxfam shop in Bayswater will be open this Saturday and is celebrating World Fair Trade Day, with a forecourt market and sausage sizzle.

Come and see the range of fair trade chocolates, coffee and tea, condiments, handicrafts, jewellery, children’s toys and a lot more, learning about the stories behind the products and supporting the people and communities that produced them.  

Learn more about the Divine Chocolate story this Easter

Easter 2017 – Supporting Fair Trade with Divine Chocolate

Make your Easter more meaningful this year through supporting fair trade. Our Fair Trade WA shop is selling Divine Chocolate’s premium Ghana cocoa milk, white and dark chocolate eggs that make the perfect gift for children and adults alike.

The fair trade cooperative behind Divine Chocolate is Kuapa Kokoo, a Ghana based collective of farmers producing high quality since the 1990’s. The cocoa farmers own a 44% share in the company, ensuring they receive a greater share of profits and influence in the local cocoa industry. 

Representing over 50,000 small local growers, the fair trade enterprise has been able to invest in the community through a range of social projects - providing wells for clean drinking water and sanitation, funding the building of local schools and access to agricultural loans and technical assistance.

 

Producer focus - CAMACRAFTS

The story behind the needlework of the Laos women stretches over 1,000 years. Their tradition and skill is continued through CAMACRAFTS, a fair trade enterprise whose products such as purses, coasters, pillow covers and wall hangings are available in our Fair trade shop.

As a not-for profit CAMACRAFTS aims to guide the local villages towards self-sufficiency by generating income through preserving and promoting the traditional craft techniques. The earnings from their work are often the only source of cash income, used to supply food, access medicines and provide their children with education.

CAMACRAFTS products are made entirely by hand by the Lao and Hmong village women, using traditional needlework skills such as Hmong applique, cross stitch, batik and embroidery. The result is finely crafted, durable and intricately decorated handicrafts.

World Water Day

World Water Day, on 22 March every year, is about taking action to tackle the water crisis.

There are over 663 million people living without a safe water supply close to home, spending countless hours queuing or trekking to distant sources, and coping with the health impacts of using contaminated water.

This year’s theme is waste water, and draws attention to reducing and reusing wastewater. 

Did you know:

• By 2050, close to 70% of the world’s population will live in cities, compared to 50% today. (UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (2014), World Urbanization Prospects: 2014)
• Globally, over 80% of the wastewater generated by society flows back into the ecosystem without being treated or reused. (Sato et. al, 2013)
• 1.8 billion people use a source of drinking water contaminated with faeces. (WHO/UNICEF (2014), Progress on drinking water and sanitation: 2014)
• Unsafe water, poor sanitation and hygiene cause around 842,000 deaths each year. (WHO (2014), Preventing diarrhoea through better water, sanitation and hygiene: exposures and impacts in low- and middle-income countries)

Everyone has the power to make a difference, whether you are an innovator like Ludwick Marishane, or a conscious shopper.