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May 3, 2010
World Fair Trade Day
On May 8, 2010,
communities in 80+
countries will celebrate World Fair Trade Day, the
global campaign for the Fair Trade movement connecting producers, businesses,
and customers around the world.
"Poverty, climate
change and economic crisis are the result of the products we buy and the
businesses we choose to support," says the World Fair Trade Organization.
The
theme of this year's World Fair Trade
Day in the United States, Fair Trade My Home, reminds
us to purchase and use Fair Trade items as part of our everyday lives.
When we expand the use of Fair Trade in our homes, we support the
people who make the items we enjoy, as well as the environment,
women's rights, children's rights, cultural dignity and producer independence.
We know that converting our meals, décor, house wares, personal care products,
and other common items, are powerful steps towards greater justice.
Since 2004, fair
traders in the United States have celebrated every October as Fair Trade Month,
a complement to World Fair Trade Day in May. Throughout the month,
organizations seek to promote fair trade in the United States through contests,
producer visits, movie screenings, and other efforts. These initiatives offer
interested individuals across the country the opportunity to learn more about
and expand fair trade.
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Microfinance
A Flow of Love and Support
Wendy Craig-Purcell for many years has held the vision of establishing a microfinance program for The Unity Center to directly alleviate poverty especially among very poor women.
As stated by the Microcredit Summit Campaign on their website:
"Microcredit programs extend small loans, and other financial services
such as savings, to very poor people for self-employment projects that
generate income, allowing them to care for themselves and their
families.
In many developing countries, the self-employed comprise more than
50 percent of the labor force. Access to small amounts of credit - with
reasonable interest rates instead of the exorbitant costs often charged
by traditional moneylenders - allows poor people to move from initial,
perhaps tiny, income-generating activities to small microenterprises.
In most cases, microcredit programs offer a combination of services and
resources to their clients including savings facilities, training,
networking, and peer support. In this way, microcredit allows families to work to end their own
poverty - with dignity. Microcredit programs around the world, using a
variety of models, have shown that poor people achieve strong repayment
records - often higher than those of conventional borrowers."
Nobel Peace Prize winner, Muhammad Yunus states in his book, Creating a World Without Poverty,"The poor are not poor because of deficiency of character or unwillingness to work hard. They are poor because institutions and regulations that work for the wealthy do not work for them."
Wendy Craig-Purcell created the program - TRAVEL WITH A PURPOSE™ to begin The Unity Center's adventure into empowering people with the skills and financial opportunity to become self-reliant, self-confident contributing members of the world community. |
BALI Jewelry Providing
an Education for Lara's Two Children
"YOU have made a difference in Lara's life.
Selling
jewelry is her only means of income to support her family. The money Lara earns is used for basic needs and ensuring
her two children receive an education. Her
8 year old daughter goes to school in Lombok and lives with her grandparents
while Lara supports her son in Bali. During our recent visit with Lara, we learned of the
motorcycle accident that broke her wrist. Not having enough money for an
operation in a hospital, she went to Lombok to have a traditional treatment of
putting her arm in a bamboo splint and giving her herbal ointments to reduce
the swelling. Lara has forever touched our hearts and takes such
special care of us by offering fresh cut pineapple and coconut when visiting. Even without much money, her hospitality is
huge. She also makes sure each piece of
jewelry is in perfect condition and refuses to give us anything that does not
meet her high standards. Really
appreciating her attention to detail and thoughtfulness, we gave Lara a bonus to
help buy books for her son who started a new semester of school. Also, seeing her wrist so swollen, we took
care of some medical her treatments." By Liz Allen and Mark Fangue |
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Copyright © 2010 The Unity Center. All Right Reserved.
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