Fair Trade Producer Stories

Because we should know who made it.

Seeing the faces behind Good News Goods brings these 3 crisis areas to the front of our conscious.

Human Trafficking: Fair Trade works through the avenues of prevention and restoration by employing vulnerable women, by altering the demand for cheaply produced, slave-made goods, and by bringing hope and healing to survivors through dignified employment.
Get the facts about Human Trafficking
Extreme Poverty: Fair Trade employment is a sustainable route out of the desperation and bondage of poverty. It works to give impoverished people a “hand-up” rather than a “hand-out”.
HIV/AIDS: Fair Trade employment provides dignity and income for outcast women suffering from HIV/AIDS, and for children who are orphaned due to HIV/AIDS or genocide.

Human Trafficking

After drug dealing, human trafficking is tied with the illegal arms industry as the second largest criminal industry in the world today, and it is the fastest growing. It is estimated that up 27 million people are currently enslaved in various forms of sexual and labor exploitation throughout our world, more than at the height of the trans-atlantic slave trade. (Kevin Bales, www.freetheslaves.net) The U.S. Department of State estimates that approximately 800,000 people–80% of which are female and 50% are children–are trafficked across international borders every year. (This estimate does not include domestic trafficking)

Many of our producers work with rescued victims, giving them dignity, stability, and a chance to start over. Their work addresses the rehabilitation factor faced by rescued victims, as they search for ways to support themselves and their families while also protecting themselves from falling back into the same trap.

Rahab Bazaar

Rahab works in the heart of Papong, bringing friendship and job skills to women rescued from and leaving the bars. As relationships are built and women choose to leave the bars, > Read More

Nightlight

Located in a neighborhood with a growing sex trade, Nightlight’s vision is to share the light of the world in both word and deed to those whose lives are blighted > Read More

Hagar International and STOPstart

Together Hagar International and STOPstart provide shelter, food, counseling, medical care, education, vocational training, and employment to women and children rescued from and vulnerable to abuse and the sex trade > Read More

Global Poverty

At present, 3 billion people live on less than $2 per day while 1.3 billion get by on less than $1 per day. 70% of those living on less than $1 per day are women.

Our partners are providing sustainable routes out of poverty for some of the world’s poorest people. Their tireless work allows us in America to buy things we need, while providing desperately needed income to those in need.

Thanksgiving Coffee

In 2003, Ugandan farmer JJ Keki walked door-to-door asking his Muslim, Christian, and Jewish neighbors to leave behind a history of conflict, and unite to face their struggle against poverty > Read More

Handmade Expressions

Handmade Expressions believe that economic-sustainability is key to the basic development of a community. They work with over 500 artisans across India and help to bring their products to market > Read More

Divine Chocolate

Divine Chocolate is the first farmer-owned chocolate company in the world. They serve as a stark contrast to the slavery and injustice that dominate most of the world’s chocolate production. > Read More

HIV/AIDS

Two-thirds of all people infected with HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa, although this region contains little more than 10% of the world’s population.

Many of our producers work directly with those suffering from and vulnerable to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa. Their work is illogically beautiful in that they spend so much of their time training those without long to live. Their work rings dignity and stability into lives devoid of either.

Cards From Africa

These cards are made by orphaned young people in Rwanda who have been directly affected by the traumas of genocide and HIV/AIDS. Making and selling these cards provides income and > Read More

Beacon of Hope

Beacon of Hope is an NGO in Kenya that seeks to bring holistic healing to women suffering from HIV/AIDS. Through job training, childcare, food relief, medical help, and legal assistance, > Read More