Stories of Change
Find out how your purchases make a difference! These stories of change highlight just some of the many ways Trade Aid has helped to transform disadvantaged producers lives:
Manuel Mamani, Francisco Coanki Pacori and Julian Mamani are great mates. They are part of the collective of 14 committees who gather together to upskill through learning and discussing, and for friendship and solidarity. Men and... more»
In a joint initative, farmers from CONACADO have used some of their fair trade social premium to subsidise the cost of construction of a new water supply for the El Cercadillo community in the town of Yamasa in the central... more»
‘Fair trade has helped us to improve our quality of life in so many ways. All the improvements – the chickens, the cows, the tiles on my kitchen floor, the new coffee equipment – have only been possible thanks to my higher income... more»
Shibani lost her parents at a young age, so missed out on opportunities that should have been available to her. It was when a neighbour noticed her artistic talent when she was arranging decorations for a Puja that she gained a... more»
Laxmi was a woman who had woven all of her life but had never seen the money from any of the work she had done. The money from her work had always gone to the male in her life: her father or her husband. When Laxmi had children... more»
In 2008 the Trade Aid education tour group visited Bangladesh and talked to a woman named Kemoni Shadipara. Kemoni is a widow. Her husband passed away four years ago and she is now bringing up four children on her own. Kemoni has... more»
Child labour is an issue that Tara Projects, a Trade Aid trading partner in India, works hard to educate about and work towards eradicating. Tara has collected footage using a hidden camera in small workshops in slum areas of... more»
Mestoyet dreams of working in a job that tackles gender issues. To pursue such a career, she will need to keep studying beyond grade 8 – the highest level that her school currently offers. But thanks to fair trade this remains a... more»
“Now we have a committee; we have transparency; we have democracy. Our society empowers women. Here in Uganda, women are not involved in decision-making – but we do all the work.”
Oliva is the treasurer of Gumutindo Coffee... more»
Jonti joined a fair trade paper making organisation when her husband’s illness left the family with no income. Through her earnings she was able to take her husband to hospital for treatment and, later, buy a medicine shop in the... more»
