October will always be a special month for me. Its a bitter sweet feeling one of immense, love, pain and optimism.
This year I supported the Pink Caravan UAE team by volunteering at their breast screening tent during their first Pink Ladies Games.
I hope to ease the pain of losing Mum by working to prevent the disease through early detection.
I also decided to enrol on the Future Learn course ''Talk About Cancer.''
Sadly, it is still very difficult to talk openly about cancer in the Pakistani community and the effects and grief left behind on family members and carers once a loved one has passed.
I would like to overcome this obstacle by initiating a dialogue and encouraging the Pakistani communities in the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates to talk about cancer openly and compassionately.
This October I supported Anti Poverty week with the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) and tweeted about the United Nations Global Goals for Sustainable Development.
I was delighted to be interviewed for Anti-Poverty Week by marketing strategist and humanitarian Anna Sadeghpour for her blog Anahata Dubai's Community Service Blog. You can the complete interview by clicking here.
Lamya Tawfik Agent for Change
Anand and Neelam Kacchia Agents for Change
Many thanks to all my friends agreed to share their photographs for Anti Poverty Week and Fairtrade Breaks Poverty. To read and view my Fairtrade Breaks Poverty blog please click here.
This month I decided to volunteer with Pink Caravan UAE team.
I encouraged ladies participating at the first Pink Ladies Games to visit the breast screening tent. It was wonderful to meet so many ladies who were passionate about supporting breast cancer.
To view more photographs of my day please click the link here.
Ms Le Thant Thuy and Dr Mike Thair of Indochine Natural
I was excited to finally meet with fairtrade organic pioneer and research scientist Dr Mike Thair and Marketing Head Ms Le Thant Thuy at their head office Penang, Malaysia.
Ms Le Thant Thuy, me and Dr Mike Thair
Indochine Natural No Fragrance and Honey Soaps for sensitive skin like mine.
Dish wash paste made from recycled cooking oil collected from Halal restaurants in Penang.
Dish wash paste produced by recycled cooking oil from Halal restaurants in Penang
Lovely Indochine Natural organic fairtrade soaps
The Stepping Stone Centre Penang Malaysia
Many thanks to Hasra Othman (Manager), Shogu artist in residence from Osaka Japan and the other volunteers who took valuable time out of their schedules to show us the centre and its facilities.
Hasra Othman and me!
Shogu artist in residence from Osaka Japan
Most of all I would like to thank all the wonderful members for welcoming us and making us feel apart of their family.
The amazingly talented artists at the Stepping Stone Centre
I feel overwhelmed with emotion and love after meeting all the talented members.
At the end of the month I was humbled to be nominated by the Super Sisters of Dubai for an Environmental Award.
Awaiting award certificate to be added here.
Please watch my video acceptance speech here.
Many thanks to the Super Sisters for honouring me with this award and I look forward to working with them in the future.
Thank you for reading and keep supporting fairtrade and ethical producers.
Best regards
Sabeena
Further Reading and Links
Anti-Poverty Week in the United Arab Emirates
Fairtrade Goes Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Asia Community Service and The Stepping Stone Centre Penang
Super Sisters Dubai
Future Learn - Cancer Research UK, Talk About Cancer
This month my right shoulder is still very painful and I have struggled to record this vlog and type this blog.
This month I supported fairtrade fortnight 2024 and celebrated Fairtrade's 30th Anniversary.
Here is my Easy Fairtrade Cocoa and Fairtrade Bananas Recipe which I baked for Fairtrade Fortnight 2024.
I have tried my best to translate this recipe in Urdu.
یہ ہے میری ایزی فیئرٹریڈ کوکو اور فیئر ٹریڈ کیلے کی ترکیب جسے میں نے فیئر ٹریڈ فورٹ نائٹ 2024 کے لیے پکایا تھا۔
میں نے اس ترکیب کا اردو میں ترجمہ کرنے کی پوری کوشش کی ہے۔
This month I supported fairtrade fortnight 2024 and celebrated Fairtrade's 30th Anniversary.
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I'm Sabeena Ahmed owner and creator of The Little Fair Trade Shop. I've been an individual associate member of the World Fair Trade Organization since 2011 and together with my artisans I bring you a bespoke collection of ethically sourced fashion & gifts.
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