Fair Trade

Fair Trade is an international trading system in which the producers in Africa, Asia Central and South America receive a fair share of the revenue from the sale of their products in the developed world.

Beside receiving a fair price to cover their production costs and earning a fair wage for their work, in safe working conditions, fair trade also helps small producers to receive training; commercialize their products on the international market; add value to their products; and to develop themselves without losing their traditional and cultural values.

Fair trade not only benefits the underdeveloped countries, but also increases awareness and engagement with consumers in the developed world. Consumer gain the opportunity to buy a wide variety of products in the knowledge that with their purchase they are helping people. It provides the opportunity for parents to send their children to university, to provide them a future, and make the dreams of their children come true.

Fair Trade in Chile

Chile is the country of extremes. From the desert in the far north, to the lakes and volcanoes, and the fjords and glaciers in the south, there is not only a big difference between the natural environments within Chile. Chile also has a huge division of wealth, meaning economic standards range from very rich to very poor. Viewing the overall economic stability of the country, we sometimes forget the significant group that lives below the poverty line (almost 20% of the population).

Fair Trade tours are a little known concept. SWA is a pioneer in Fair Trade Tours in Chile, hoping to create awareness of the poverty that still can be found in Chile, and the great work the Chilean fair trade organizations are doing. It is really interesting to see how fair trade has changed the lives of so many producers across chile!

The fair-trade tour aims to raise awareness about Fair Trade and promote the fair trade movement. It is a learning experience, combined with tourism in a breathtaking country.

Fair Trade Criteria

According to the Fair Trade Federation, fair trade needs to full fill a certain numbers of criteria:

• Paying a fair wage – a living wage - in the local context
• Offering employees opportunities for advancement
  
• Providing equal employment opportunities for all people, particularly the most disadvantaged
  
• Forced labor and exploitative child labor are not allowed
  
• Engaging in environmentally sustainable practices
  
• Being open to public accountability
  
• Building long-term trade relationships
• Providing healthy and safe working conditions
  
• Providing financial and technical assistance to producers whenever possible

Fair Trade Facts

Fair trade traces its roots to 1946 when Edna Ruth Byler, a volunteer for Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), visited an MCC sewing class in Puerto Rico where she discovered the talent the women had for creating beautiful lace and the extraordinary poverty in which they lived despite their hard work

• World Fair Trade Day – 10 May 2008 hundreds of thousands of people across the globe celebrate World Fair Trade Day: Kids need Fair Trade.
• SWA Chile is a pioneer in Fair Trade tours in Chile, and is looking at expanding to other countries in South America.
• 632 Fairtrade Certified Producer Organisations, representing over 1,4 million farmers and workers, in 58 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
• In 2006, consumers worldwide bought 1,6 billion Euros worth of Fairtrade Certified Products, 42 % more than the year before.