Face of Fair Trade: Ugandan Basket Weavers Tackle Poverty with Fair Trade

In conjunction with Blog Action Day and Fair Trade Month, I am highlighting a group of Ugandan women using their traditional weaving skills as a vehicle to combat poverty.

The National Association of Women Organizations in Uganda (NAWOU) is an NGO that was formed in 1992 in order to improve the status and living conditions of women in Uganda.

With the guidance of NAWOU, these women have been able to sell and market their traditional hand-made crafts in the international market under Fair Trade terms.

According to Marketing Officer at NAWOU's craft centre, Pamela Kyagera,

"I strongly believe we can go a long way in fighting poverty through fair trade. The women you see bringing the crafts would never make it through conventional markets.

"They would not sell through markets which are far from their homes. They would not have enough information and they would get exploited."

The women have been able to share stories of how they have benefit through the Fair Trade system.

Widow and mother of three, Joyce Nakazi:

"I have benefited a lot from the sale of the baskets because I managed to build a house from my savings. I also paid for education for my eldest son, who qualified to join the university. I used to work as an attendant at a nursery school near our church but the money was not enough. So I quit to rather make baskets,"

Daisy Nanteza, who was left homeless after her husband's death in 2006 recounts:

"Living as a single mother and educating children here is not easy. But I have managed it by selling crafts. I make up to 100,000 shillings a month (about 60 dollars)."

Sanyu Rose, single mother of three, talks about Fair Trade:

"What I understand about fair trade is that you don't exploit the artisans because you have to ensure that both sides gain. We have benefited from fair trade because we get a higher price, compared to the price in shops not operating under fair trade principles."

A testament of how Fair Trade is doing its part in alleviating poverty. Read more about these NAWOU workers, as well as challenges they face along the way.