Fair Trade Jewelry

Fair Trade is a movement that is very important to me. The Fair Trade Movement is based on the ethic of providing fair and rightful wages to farmers, artisans, and workers globally, especially in developing nations.
Ten Thousand Villages is a wonderful store that sells a wide variety of homemade and authentic Fair Trade goodies from artisans all around the globe.
They have a wonderful array of jewelry for sale, so I thought I would share some of the jewelry with you (and the stories behind them, as well).

Maasai Glass Bead Earrings, $16: "These Maasai artisans [the makers of these earrings] live about an hour from Nairobi in the Ngong Hills. Namayiana has provided many benefits to the more than 100 families involved. Income from craft sales has helped to provide food, clothing and school fees for the artisans’ families."

 Variegated Serpentine Necklace, $49: Intercrafts Peru is a nonprofit civic association promoting export sales of Peruvian handicrafts. A democratic cooperative of artisan groups, Intercrafts Peru allows artisans full participation in organizational decisions. The group's aim is to keep overhead costs low, to share responsibility so more income remains in the hands of the artisans, and to explore new markets...Benefits to members include health care, loan funds and advances, school supplies and books, training programs and technical assistance."

 Teardrop Choker, $18: "Noah's Ark International Exports is a fair trade handicraft marketing organization in Moradabad, India. Most of the artisans are women, who benefit from the fact that they can work from home and maintain their responsibilities for children and household. Noah's Ark provides benefits such as education and medical treatment for artisans and their families."

 Ancient Echoes Ring, $16: Fair Trade Egypt, based in Cairo, Egypt, serves 40 producer organizations that incorporate some 2,700 artisans...Fair Trade Egypt creates employment in marginalized communities, works for greater equity in employment conditions between men and women, encourages children’s education by eliminating the need for them to work, and provides greater access to services in health and education. The organization also seeks to have only a positive impact on the environment, and to preserve traditional craft techniques in Egypt. The organization gives high priority to safe and healthy working conditions, as a principle tenet of fair trade."

 Frond Batik Wooden Bangle, $7.50: Java Ixora, named for “soka,” a Javanese flower, is located in Yogyakarta, Central Java [Indonesia]. Java Ixora helps small artisan groups market their products. Its artisan groups create traditional ikat fabric, leather, ceramic and bamboo products, as well as furniture and small wooden accessory items.