Trade As One

One of my favorite things is when new products arrive in the warehouse. I have always had a particularly strange draw towards inanimate objects that have personality so it was no surprise that I fell in love with Astro Neil.

What I wasn’t expecting was that grown men would also be captivated with him. But, I kid you not – I have seen numerous adults see Astro Neil, smile, pick him up and giggle. Something about him captures us all. Is it because we all secretly want to visit space? Is it that we all wish we got to wear cool uniforms to work? Is it because he is made of string and then stuck into a plastic helmet? I don’t know. But, what I do know is he is clipped onto my bag and every time I look at him, I smile.

The timing of Astro Neil’s arrival at Trade as One seems serendipitous as the Atlantis crew prepares for their spacewalk tomorrow morning, it seems fitting that Astro Neil can serve as a symbol of the amazing things we have seen in our lifetime. Wanna meet him? Click here.

- Rachel

Over 100 leaders tuned in to the webinar yesterday morning to discuss ways to use their influence to be good news to the poor. Lynne Hybels, Nancy Ortberg, and Nathan George shared from their experience in issues of compassion and justice, and those leaders were called to action. You’ll be able to watch the webinar (in its entirety and a 12 minute “highlights” version) when we post them next week, but in the meantime I wanted to share this video. It breaks down what Willow Creek did in 2008 to engage their WHOLE church in alleviating global poverty. We think it’s a fantastic example of a creative, inclusive initiative. You can read more about the webinar and see more videos by clicking here.

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It is the day before Mother’s Day, a day that is an opportunity to honor our moms, but also a difficult day for those who have lost their mother or a child. At Trade as One, we know that loss and hope are usually weaved together, often in ways we cannot comprehend. Yesterday, we received a beautiful email with two redemptive stories from one of our producers, Hargar,  and they have graciously given us permission to share them with you.

Across Hagar, we have many stories.  Most of our stories start sad, but then they become stories of faith and hope and love.  And, the greatest of these are the stories about love:

The story of 19 year old Sambath. Things fell apart when her father abandoned her mother.  Seeing no other options, Sambath’s mother sold her. She was trafficked to a Phnom Penh brothel.  At 15, she was rescued.  It was a long recovery for the betrayed young girl.  Along the journey, Sambath learned to love again. She also learned to forgive.  When she finished training as a beautician, she dreamed of having her own business.  More than that, she dreamed of a loving relationship with her mother.  When her mother helped her open a beauty salon right under the house they share, she achieved both dreams.

And, the story of 14 year old Bophana.  Raped, she became a mother when she was by no means ready. Terrified of the birth and cast out by her family, Bophana came to Hagar Shelter six months pregnant.  It was a traumatic time.  Now, Bophana has fallen in love with her baby. She is developing faith in herself, as well.  She hopes to go back to school and find a good job and support her daughter. Hagar is seeking a Cambodian family that will provide loving foster care as they both grow up.

Saturday May 8th marks the ninth WORLD FAIR TRADE DAY and gives us a chance to reflect a little on the impact and exciting potential that is Fair Trade.

Fair Trade is essentially the exchange of goods based on principals of economic and social justice. It goes without saying that Aid and Development work are totally crucial and much needed approaches - but what gets us most excited about Fair Trade is that it is a sustainable and systemic approach that gives people independence and dignity.  It’s not charity, nor pity, but it’s a sustainable way to break cycles of poverty and dependency.

Give a man a fish and you’ll feed him for a day (Aid)
Teach a man to fish and he’ll feed himself (Development)
Buy his fish and he has a sustainable way out of poverty (Fair Trade)

Fair Trade ...

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This is the last post from Chad and Jodi Mulder about their experiences visiting Trade as One producers in Africa. Their 6 week trip will has taken them to over a dozen producers in Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya.

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We packed up and headed north out of Rwanda, passing through rolling hills smattered with blazing yellow tea plantations and tall, swaying sugar cane fields. Entering Uganda presented us with two immediate challenges. First, we had to remember to drive on the other (left) side of the road and then a battery of unforgiving speed bumps seemed ever-present, challenging our sensitive Western nerves and stomachs. Weaving through the countryside and munching on mediocre “English” biscuits, we were glad to be taking in the beauty of rural Uganda. Before diving back into producer visits, we spent a few days on safari, enjoying the wilderness of Africa. The hippopotamus in Queen Elizabeth National Park was the family favorite, with their odd blend of enormity, surprisingly adept swimming and endearingly bulging eyes. 

After two days and 700 kilometers we finally came to the tiny village of Abayudaya, our next producer destination. A warm greeting awaited us at the Abayduya Guesthouse.  Situated in a predominately Jewish community, the guesthouse is next to the community’s small, modest synagogue. It was a treat for us to spend five days immersed in village life, eating traditional Ugandan food, beading jewelry with local women, and joining in the daily afternoon soccer game at the schoolyard. We even celebrated our son’s third birthday with a room full of about twenty newly found friends, singing three different versions of “Happy Birthday” and eating cake.

Just a few minutes’ drive from Abayduya is the Peace Kawomera Coffee Cooperative which supplies Thanksgiving Coffee ...

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