Gifts for a Better World - 2009
Compiled by Joanie Connors
In this gift buying season, why not do some good with your money? Here are some links for buying gifts that will benefit charities and fair trade / indigenous artisan projects. (These are not meant to take the place of local shops and craftspeople, who need your support also.)
A charity gift is especially to be considered if your loved one already has too much stuff and is trying to declutter their house. It is best if the cause you select for a loved one represents something they are interested in, otherwise it might seem like preaching, which is not a gift at all.
These links were updated in the Fall of 2009 with the help of some friends. Please let me know if any of these links no longer function and send other like-minded links to joanie@joanieconnors.com
Fair Trade Gifts
Note: Fair trade means these gifts have not been made in: prisons, sweat shops, or by slaves or children. Most have been made by family workshops and individual artisans.
Novica: Handcrafts and arts from all over the world sold with the philosophy of using the internet to provide better prices to third world artisans, with 1700 artists, selected by region or product
Help Afghani Women: Afghan women's crafts, linens, clothing -100% of profits go to Afghani women.
Mirembe Kawomera (mirŽem bay cow o mareŽa) means "delicious peace" in the Ugandan language Luganda and sells terrific coffee grown by a cooperative of Jewish, Muslim, Christian farmers in Uganda.
World Wildlife Fund: gifts include symbolic animal adoptions and handcrafted items that support sustainable livelihoods through WWF projects around the world.
Aid to Artisans: wholesale only. Founded in 1976, Aid To Artisans (ATA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating economic opportunities for crafts people in developing communities around the world. Also at http://www.onenest.com/
Charity Gifts
Unicef : beautiful Christmas cards and gifts: ornaments, t-shirts and stationery benefiting international children's relief work. You can also donate to Darfur refugees and girls' education here.
Save the Children: A humanitarian agency helping children living in poverty around the world. Small number of gift items, but the best gift is a sponsorship, in which your giftee is matched with a child and sent pictures and contact information though you can also just donate in someone's name
Heifer International: donate in someone's name so that a third world family can receive training or farm animals to become self-reliant
SEVA Foundation: charity which provides "gifts of service"- you donate money to fund a sight-restoring operation on a blind person, bring water to a community in Guatemala, etc., in honor of someone.
Fellowship of Reconciliation: Gifts for Peace - books, great holiday cards, calendars, CD's and videos from one of the oldest US organizations devoted to peace
Oxfam Unwrapped: The Oxfam Unwrapped catalogues only contain items that people around the world have identified they need to change their lives for the better - emergency relief, farming, health, education, small business and advocacy (for example - donkeys, plant 50 trees, sanitation kits, women's training, chickens).
Soles4Souls: Soles4Shoes' mission is providing shoes in those areas of the world where many people go without. Here you can buy a pair of shoes for someone for as little as $2. (You can also send your unused shoes or organize a shoe drive to send unwanted shoes where they are needed).
