CONCERN AMERICA MARKETPLACE OF FAIR TRADE CRAFTS

HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE:

1. Purchase Concern America's Fair Trade Crafts Online
2. Learn more about Concern America's Marketplace of Fair Trade Crafts
3. Host a Fair Trade Craft sale
4. Promote Fair Trade coffee
5. View a selection of crafts in Concern America's Fall newsletter
6. Contact Concern America for more information
7. Download a powerpoint presentation of Concern America's Fair Trade Craft program (3.9 mb)

Why Concern America's Marketplace of Fair Trade Crafts?
• To promote Fair Trade and justice in the marketplace
• As an exchange of care with impoverished communities in "developing" countries
• For quality/unique gift ideas
• To support development projects that improve the lives of the economically poor (health care, literacy, appropriate technology, income-generation, agriculture, and promotion of women)

Concern America is an international development and refugee aid organization. Concern America assists impoverished communities and refugees in developing countries in their efforts to improve their living conditions. Concern America programs emphasize training of community members wherever possible, in order to impart skills and knowledge which remain with the community. The training covers four distinct areas: preventive health care, appropriate technology, education, and the formation of income-generating cooperatives. Concern America operates predominantly in Mexico and Central America but also in Africa and Asia.

Concern America's Marketplace of Fair Trade Craft program serves several functions. It provides direct assistance to needy families in such ways as dependable markets and fair prices, which reinforce self-reliance and initiative. Since many producers of handcrafts are women, often single heads of families, the craft program also targets a segment of the population that traditionally has had difficulty obtaining employment. Handcraft production can often be done at home and thus allows mothers to earn a living while caring for their children. By making it possible for artisans to earn a decent living from handcraft production, Concern America also helps preserve traditional culture.

Host a Fair Trade Craft Sale
Every year, more than 100 individuals, groups, and places of worship host a Fair Trade Craft Sale. Pick the date and everything is provided to you to host a sale:
• Crafts
• Instructions
• Signs
• Concern America Literature

To host a Fair Trade Craft sale in California and throughout the country, contact Lynda Schulte, 1-800-CONCERN (266-2376), lynda_concern@earthlink.net.

Concern America's Fair Trade Coffee - The Label Says It All!
Concern America sells Fair Trade coffee that is organic, shade grown, and harvested with dignity by men and women indigenous producers from Cooperatives in Chiapas, Mexico. Concern America coffee is available as dark roast, ground or whole bean, and even de-caf. Call 1-800-CONCERN (266-2376) for more information or to place an order for coffee for yourself or to sell at a Fair Trade Craft Sale.

Selection of Crafts
Every year, Concern America highlights a selection of its crafts in its Fall newsletter. To obtain a PDF copy of the SELECTION OF CRAFTS FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON 2011 click on the link or call 1-800-CONCERN (266-2376) to receive it in the mail. You can also call Concern America to place your craft order or purchase crafts online!