Trade As One

Mother’s Day is less than one week away so we have been running a special series highlighting our producers who are also moms. According to the National Retail Federation, Mother’s Day is the second largest consumer holiday behind the winter holidays (Christmas, Hanukah and Kwanza). So, we are excited to be able to share with you some of the individual stories of the women who make the products that you purchase from us. We hope that you choose to buy a gift for the special women in your life that will bring the world together.

Today’s story features Basima Atyani who is part of the women’s cooperative who rolls Maftoul (Couscous) for Canaan Fair Trade. You can purchase a beautiful gift basket called the Canaan Harvest Basket - a wonderful gift in honor of your mom and Basima too!

A self-taught high school graduate, Basima got married when she was in tenth grade and later studied all subjects on her own to take the high school graduation test called Tawjihi. A proud mother of five boys and two girls, Basima says she would rather not eat than not to send her kids to school. This is why she makes sure that her home is completely self-sustainable. Along with growing all kinds of vegetables, Basima raises sheep and makes cheese for the people in the village.

An expert in time management, this woman can multi task like no other. As the treasurer for the Anza Women’s Club she has her hands full with different projects that bring work and education opportunities for the women of her village. A member of the Canaan Fair Trade women’s cooperative, she works on making Maftoul during the summer and works as a seamstress the rest of the year. “I learned how to sew when my husband was not getting paid much as a teacher. I started making traditional dresses and then moved to embroidery and handcrafts. Some women ask me where I find the time but I say there is always time. It is a question of organizing what you do with it. I do all this and I have time to meet my social obligations.”

On top of all the work she does, Basima somehow finds time to volunteer. She is one of only two women members of the projects committee in Anza’s village council where she offers her advice as to what the community needs. “I was so happy when I brought the idea of a children’s park to the council and they got excited about it. It was just a thought but today the park is a reality and the kids play there instead of the streets. I feel so proud that I was part of the force that made this happen.”

This is exactly how she says she feels when she sees her hand rolled Maftoul in the nice boxes Canaan Fair Trade exports. “When I saw our Maftoul displayed in these nice boxes in Canaan’s showroom I felt that I could fly. This work has made me feel bigger, supported, and most of all appreciated. We always think here that the world does not see us so when I see that people know about our work and value it I start to feel really powerful and able. Women here, we do not want handouts and charities; we want to assert ourselves and our identities through work. This is why I have always wanted to be part of the Palestine Fair Trade Association, because the benefits we get are the product of our hard work. I take pride in that. When I sit down with myself, I feel at ease because I always made ends meet, even in the hardest of times.”

Thanks to Canaan Fair Trade for sharing Basima’s story with us.

We are excited to introduce a new line of cards - Sanctuary Spring. Sanctuary Spring is a line of beautiful, fair trade greeting cards handcrafted by women who have escaped prostitution in the Philippines. These women were originally forced into prostitution by others or because they had no other means of providing for their families. Now, they are participating in restoration services provided by local charities in order to forge a new beginning for their lives. With limited job options in the Philippines, Sanctuary Spring is a critical lifeline that provides safe, dignifying, and empowering work.

Each card is $3.95 which puts local stationery boutiques to shame! Each card is handcrafted with exquisite “craftwomanship”. Since I spent ten years in the stationery industry, I do not toss around these compliments casually. Because they are so well made, they may appear digitally printed in the photos, but in fact each one is made of individual paper pieces that have a 3-D effect in person. My favorites (so far) are the Animal Mobile Card (I love owls and this little guy is darling) and The Sweetest Thing (I love doughnuts so perhaps this adds why I love it).

The Batik Flower Card is another favorite for a completely different reason - it isn’t cute like the others, it is beautiful! Since it is a blank card, this is definitely one to stock up on and keep for any occasion.

For those stationery lovers out there, this is a great way to purchase something you already love and purchase and now you can know that each card purchase is helping a woman who has escaped prostitution and now has safe, dignified work. The back of the card is signed by the woman who made it and a bit of Sanctuary Spring’s story so you can spread the word to the person you share your cards with!

Appropriate for Mother’s Day, check out the Cherry Blossom Mother’s Day Card. See the entire line here.