Here are just a few of our valued producers, and a little bit about them and how they have been affected by Fair Trade working. Click on a name to see the full story:
- Brazia - How Fairtrade wages benefit workers
- Khan Family - How Fairtrade premiums pay for workers health care
- Bijad - How Fairtrade Premiums pay for Micro-credit loans
- Kadir Ensure - How Fairtrade funds micro-credit
- Kitman - Sri Lankan Fair Trade rubber project
- Shymala - Fair trade rubber tapping in South India
- Sameena Nyaz - How Fairtrade Premiums help pay for healthcare »
- Gollapalli Nampalli - Organic Cotton Growing in India
- Iramma Ramappa Bangari - Organic Cotton Growing in India
- Mr Babu - Fair Trade pension project for rubber tappers
- Mr. Dadmanabhan - Health insurance from the Fair trade Fund
- Ms. Saradha - An operation paid for by Fair Trade premiums
- Rezwan Waris - How Fair Trade Premiums pay for Micro-credit
- Premavati and other Tsunami Victims - Greentips™ Rubber Band Balls
- Mr Sadasivan - Wedding costs help from Fair Trade premiums in South India
To find out more about the making of Fair Trade Footballs, see our video on YouTube.
» How Fairtrade Premiums help pay for healthcare
Sameena Nyaz is 18 years old, single, and lives in a village called Chak Gillan near Sialkot, the world capital of football production in Pakistan.
Her father runs the snack shop in the football stitching centre 200 meters away, which was built by Talon Sports, the first Fair Trade football supplier. Sameena goes there to stitch footballs and it is due to Fairtrade that this local centre is available. Most football stitching used to be done in the home but this was phased out by the big companies in an attempt to eradicate child labour. This had a hugely negative impact on families as companies moved the work into big factory units in order to prevent child labour but they effectively locked out women who could not afford to be away from home for the whole day. After home-based stitching stopped, the local stitching centre was one of the first where women could continue such work.
Sameena is one of 11 siblings; seven sisters, four brothers. Two of the older ones also stitch balls. Stitching wages are low - only Fair Trade buyers pay enough to enable the three to provide their family with all the basic necessities. Sameena never had the chance to attend school - instead she has been contributing to the family income from early on, and has now been stitching for three years. The family has a small hut and a kitchen garden, in which everyone helps out.
Not long before this photo was taken Sameena had to have a thyroid operation - the bandage on her neck is still there. All costs were paid for by the Fair Trade Welfare Society - the health care scheme made possible by the Fairtrade premium that is paid on every Fairtrade ball that is made.