Fair Trade Wrap

Fair Trade for All

Oak Lawn resident Catherine Randolph has a handful at Queen of Peace’s first annual fair trade bazaar on April 26. Her purchases included hand-woven baskets, organic soup mix, and Irish breakfast tea.

Oak Lawn resident Jane Randolph (left) and Lockport resident Joan Senne show their support for fair trade at Peace’s fair trade bazaar on April 26.

Event Photos

Burbank, IL – May 5, 2008 – On April 26 and 27, Queen of Peace High School welcomed over 300 shoppers to its fair trade bazaar. With ethnic music and drum beats echoing in the halls, the Peace café transformed into an international marketplace. In conjunction with Ten Thousand Villages, one of the world’s largest fair trade organizations, as well as World Shoppe, Minga Imports, and Rangi Mingi, Peace presented shoppers with unique purchasing opportunities: kisii stone sculptures made from stone found in the hills of western Kenya, wooden nativity scenes, organic food items, house wares, and jewelry all made by artisans living in developing regions around the world.

As host of the sale, Peace partnered with co-sponsor Ten Thousand Villages. This organization works with over 100 artisans in more than 30 countries. Ten Thousand Villages honors the value of seeking to bring justice and hope to the poor, providing for production expenses, paying vital fair income to artisans who would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed, and guaranteeing good working conditions

The sale also included an educational element. Over the weekend, vendors presented on various topics related to fair trade and global issues. Megy Karydes of the World Shoppe spoke to students, shoppers, and volunteers about what prompted her to start a fair trade business. Patrick Eccles of Loyola University’s Campus Ministry discussed wealth, poverty, and sustainable coffee in Guatemala.

From Minga Fair Trade Imports, Patrick Broderick gave a brief overview of the fair trade movement, tracing its historical roots.

Fair trade is not new, and it is not a celebrity movement. Fair trade is based on relationships and it started in the 1940’s by religious organizations and development charities.” Broderick also went on to discuss issues of justice.

The key here is communication and access to information. Of course, I can get up in the morning, log onto my computer, and check the prices of coffee in any part of the world. But the actual coffee farmer in a developing region whose very livelihood depends on this kind of information cannot. He doesn’t have access to these tools and this information, and it is his own business. I have no interest in this information, but it is right at my fingertips. How can he be expected to run a successful business when this is so clearly unfair and unjust?”

In a final workshop, Susanne Donoghue of Ten Thousand Villages described her hands-on work with artisan women around the world. She spoke of meeting strong, hardworking women with large families to support.

Without ever having been schooled, these women are learning trades like basket-weaving, becoming masters of it, and earning just enough to house their families. In fact, some even set aside 10% of their income so that their daughters can go to school. Most of the communities have not even been able to build schools yet. To me, these women are true pictures of faith and courage.”

With this sale, Peace responds to a call to live out the Gospel and Dominican of Sinsinawa values upon which the school is built. By becoming involved with the fair trade movement, Peace not only encourages community building but also brings the values of faith to bear in the marketplace. All five of the Dominican of Sinsinawa values – truth, justice, compassion, community and partnership – were put into action on this weekend.