We have two main goals, which drive everything we do.
First, we want to provide as much Fair Trade employment as we can, as quickly and sustainably as we can. Poverty is at the root of the greatest evils in our world, and we believe that fair employment is the best way to break cycles of poverty and dependency. Targeted aid is of course important and necessary for certain problems like disasters, but enterprise and job creation are the only ways we know of that address long term poverty.
It’s very difficult for those of us in the developed world to appreciate what fair employment means to hardworking women and men in the developing world. The poor want what we do - not handouts or pity, but a chance to provide for their families in a dignified way. It means fair wages, honest employers, clean water, healthcare, education for children. Our first goal is to provide as many of these jobs as we can.
Our second goal is to be a part of a powerful culture shift that is happening in America. We vote for our government every four years, but we vote for the way companies behave every time we open our wallets. Connecting our values and beliefs with the way our money is spent has the power to bring about significant change.
Once people become aware of the enormous challenges that we face in the world, they are often overwhelmed with what to do. It’s good to be upset, but it’s better to be inspired. Change is possible. But only when people of conviction take action. Trade as One is all about action.
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