Fair Trade Egypt is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to empower Egyptian artisans through the practice of Fair Trade. FTE surveys the developing areas of the country, finds local treasures that have been traditionally manufactured for centuries and brings them to you, our consumer. All in all, our inventory covers all of Egypt, with more than 30 artisan groups in seven different regions.

"About 90 percent of our sales come from Fair Trade Egypt. It is truly the foundation of our operations and our success." Bassma, artisan supervisor.

Around 900 women from nine isolated Bedouin villages of North Sinai participate in this initiative. Through this cooperation, FTE has managed to expose the consumer to artisan goods that would have otherwise remained completely out of reach, because of the geographical location of Al Arish, and also because of the fact that, culturally, Bedouin women rarely leave their homes, let alone their communities.

The ancient town of Naqada, which lies on the historical West Bank of the Nile, neighboring ancestral Luxor, has been considered one of the weaving powerhouses of Egypt for as long as anyone can recall. Although this town isn’t a big tourist draw nowadays, the necropolis of Naqada was the resting place for entire generations of pharaohs more than five thousand years ago. Demographically, three quarters of the population is Christian, and several abandoned monasteries surround the area.

Gospel House Handicrafts specializes the production of wooden educational toys, puzzles, children's furniture and other general handicrafts. It was set up primarily to provide employment and training to poor semi-educated youth in the field of making wooden toys, utility items and ornamental handicrafts.

Gospel House is known for the quality wooden toys produced under fair trade condition.

Our mission is :

Santiago, Chile
Comparte, a nonprofit trading organization, was organized by the Social Union of Christian Businessmen (USEC) to provide social assistance to disadvantaged craftspeople. Based in Santiago, Chile’s capital city, Comparte markets products for a variety of artisan groups located in Chile. In addition to conducting regional workshops, Comparte provides training, organizational assistance and marketing and design services to these groups. Comparte also features their crafts in markets and commercial craft stores in the region.

 Source: http://www.fairworldgallery.com/catalog/producer_profiles.php

Tara Projects was begun in the early 1970s by a study group of social workers and students at Jamia Millia University. They looked for ways to help change the lives of the “untouchables” who lived nearby. This organization has become a leading voice opposing the use of child labour, and promoting the rights and status of women. To fight exploitation and poverty, they not only ensure fair payment, but support housing programmes, improve working conditions and develop community services and utilities. They provide informal education programmes for children and women, train in health and environmental awareness, and work in many ways to further the development of their member artisans. Numerous levels of committees, with elected representatives from all sections of the project, co-ordinate the production, design and marketing of their wares.

Ana Lilian in her workshop

The Artisan Association of Chalatenango has 90 members, 90% of whom are women. The people of Chalatenango, a mountainous area in the northeastern corner of El Salvador, suffered great losses during the civil war of the '80's but have great hopes for the future. The name of their craft shop reflects that hope- Tienda de Artesania "El Renacer Chalateco," which is Spanish for "A New Beginning in Chalatenango." Chalatecan artisans in about 19 family workshops in the villages of Guarjila, San Antonio los Ranchos, Arcatao, El Jardin, La Palma, La Ceiba, and La Laguna are making painted wooden products, clothing, woven textiles, seed paintings, hammocks, leatherwork and cornhusk products.