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The Little Fair Trade Blog

A Visit to The Makers Market, West Didsbury, Manchester, UK

A Visit to The Makers Market, West Didsbury, Manchester, UK

This month I visited The Makers Market West Didsbury, Manchester.

It was a beautiful Sunday morning and I headed over to Nell Lane, West Didsbury with my sister Irem.

I surprised to see so many wonderful artisan stalls selling bespoke hand crafted items.

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Six Items Challenge 2020 - Labour Behind The Label with Sabeena Ahmed

Six Items Challenge 2020 - Labour Behind The Label with Sabeena Ahmed

So here I am for the eighth consecutive year participating in the Six Items Challenge 2020 with Labour Behind The Label.

This year the challenge commenced 26th February - 9th April 2020. 

During the fashion fast my beloved grandmother returned to her maker, the world faced Covid 19, I had surgery for a ruptured cyst and observed Lockdown to protect key workers. 

Congratulations to all the Sixers and everyone who supported garment workers at this critical time.

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April 2020 - Newsletter Video Blog Summary

April 2020 - Newsletter Video Blog Summary

This month I continued to heal from surgery for a ruptured cyst,

completed my eighth Six Items Challenge 2020 with Labour Behind The Label and

embraced Ramadan 2020 under Covid-19 conditions by participating in Observing Ramadan in Britain/Overseas Research project.

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February 2020 - Newsletter Video Blog Summary

February 2020 - Newsletter Video Blog Summary

This month I completed the online MOOC, Up-cycling From Green Ideas to Starting a Business - Living in Minca and

celebrated Fairtrade Fortnight 2020 Dubai, United Arab Emirates with my sister Irem.

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World Cancer Day 2020 with Sabeena Ahmed

World Cancer Day 2020 with Sabeena Ahmed

Hello, Assalaam Alaikum, peace and blessings,

My name is Sabeena and this is my message for World Cancer Day 2020!

My beautiful mother Mrs Meshar Mumtaz Bano was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer March 2012, she was 59 years old.

Mum courageously received 4 years of chemotherapy and radiotherapy before she returned to her maker April 2016, she was 62 years old.

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November & December 2019 - Newsletter Video Blog Summaries

November & December 2019 - Newsletter Video Blog Summaries

This November I was very poorly and had to rest my left shoulder.

This December I attended an evening with the Creative team at Heart & Parcel Manchester, UK and 

Received my WHO'S SHE - a guessing game about extraordinary women and read my September/October and November/December editions of Ethical Magazine, UK.

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My Fair Trade Story Video Presentation - Sabeena Ahmed and The Little Fair Trade Shop

My Fair Trade Story Video Presentation - Sabeena Ahmed and The Little Fair Trade Shop

How it all began my fair trade story video presentation 2019 and graduation award ceremony with Chief Executive of the School For Social Entrepreneurs Mr Alistair Wilson and HE Reem Abdel Rahim BinKaram Director of NAMA Women Advancement and Establishment.

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Live Below The Line 2014 - Dubai, UAE - Sabeena Ahmed and The Little Fair Trade Shop

Live Below The Line 2014 - Dubai, UAE - Sabeena Ahmed and The Little Fair Trade Shop

During April/May of 2014 I decided to participate with Practical Action and the Live Below The Line 2014 UK campaign to highlight how 1 billion people around the world slept hungry every night and lived on less than one dollar a day.

The issue is one that is very close to my heart as my fairtrade work focuses on alleviating poverty.

Fairtrade supports the Sustainable Development Goals, and every individual deserves to live with dignity, respect and not spend a single night hungry.

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October 2019 - Newsletter Video blog Summary

October 2019 - Newsletter Video blog Summary

This October I continued with Plastic Free July. 

Participated in the Pakistani Diaspora Leaders Programme with Common Purpose UK.
Received my copies of His Own Man A Victorian 'Hidden' Muslim The Life and Times of Robert 'Reschid' Stanley - Christina Longden
and
Generation Share The change-makers building the Sharing Economy -
Benita Matofska and Sophie Sheinwald.

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September 2019 - Newsletter Video Blog Summary

September 2019 - Newsletter Video Blog Summary

This September I continued with Plastic Free July. 

Participated in Zero Waste Week 2019 and Climate Action Day.

Received my certificate for the Future Learn MOOC, Fashion Revolution and the Sustainable Development Goals.

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Zero Waste Week 2019, Dubai, UAE - Fair Trade Ethical Living with Sabeena Ahmed

Zero Waste Week 2019, Dubai, UAE - Fair Trade Ethical Living with Sabeena Ahmed

This is my humble effort to reduce my plastic consumption and waste for Zero Waste Week 2019, Dubai and the United Arab Emirates.

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August 2019 - Video Blog Newsletter Summary

August 2019 - Video Blog Newsletter Summary

This August I continued with Plastic Free July. 

Participated and attended a DIY beauty workshop. 

Wrote a food blog for Zero Waste Week 2019 -

How to make Masoor (red split lentils)and Moong (yellow lentils) ki Daal, this recipe was lovingly cooked by my late mother Mrs Meshar Mumtaz Bano.

 

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The Little Fair Trade Shop - Fairtrade and the Sustainable Development Goals

The Little Fair Trade Shop - Fairtrade and the Sustainable Development Goals

In this blog I explain how Fairtrade supports the Sustainable Development Goals and how I have attempted to implement them in my everyday work and life.

I have concentrated on the following SDG's, SDG1, SDG2, SDG5, SDG8, SDG10, SDG12, SDG13, SDG16 and SDG17.

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Fair Trade Ethical Living - Natural Beauty Workshop, August 2019, Dubai, UAE

Fair Trade Ethical Living - Natural Beauty Workshop, August 2019, Dubai, UAE

On a scorching hot and dusty afternoon, I headed to the Retold Boutique in Umm Suqueim for a a Natural Beauty Workshop with Amruta Kshemkalyani Co founder of Sustainability Tribe.

It was surprising to learn that my mothers (gram flour) besan and tumeric cleanser and (Fullers Earth) multani mitti face pack was part of the DIY beauty workshop.

To learn how to make the cleanser, face pack and scrub read my blog.

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July 2019 - Newsletter Video Blog Summary

July 2019 - Newsletter Video Blog Summary

This July I edited my interview with Alex Schmidt and Marie Louise of Valy Export, Madagascar.

Participated in Plastic Free July 2019 and completed a MOOC with Future Learn titled Fashion's Future: Sustainable Development Goals Fashion Revolution 

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Plastic Free July 2019 - Fair Trade Ethical Living, Sabeena Ahmed, Dubai and the United Arab Emirates

Plastic Free July 2019 - Fair Trade Ethical Living, Sabeena Ahmed, Dubai and the United Arab Emirates

This year I am determined to reduce my plastic consumption and try to educate others in the process.

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Interview with Alex Schmidt and Marie Louise of Valy Export, Madagascar - April 2019

Interview with Alex Schmidt and Marie Louise of Valy Export, Madagascar - April 2019

I was pleasantly surprised to receive an email from Alex Schmidt from Valy Export Madagascar mid April. 

I invited him and his wife Marie Louise for lunch to learn more about their fair trade business.

 

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June 2019 - Newsletter Video Blog Summary

June 2019 - Newsletter Video Blog Summary

This June I fasted the final days of Ramadan and celebrated Eid ul Fitr.

Was very poorly and had to rest my shoulders and back.

Ordered the Traidcraft 40th anniversary 2019 resource pack

and bamboo cup.

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May 2019 - Newsletter Video Blog Summary

May 2019 - Newsletter Video Blog Summary

This May I received my certificate for the Future Learn MOOC

' Make Change Happen' with Oxfam and the Open University.

I embraced Ramadan 2019 and

celebrated World Fair Trade Day 2019.

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World Fair Trade Day 2019 - Dubai and the United Arab Emirates

World Fair Trade Day 2019 - Dubai and the United Arab Emirates

WORLD FAIR TRADE DAY - DUBAI, UAE

This years World Fair Trade Organization campaign was 'Fairtrade Innovates', 

I am very grateful to the amazing M.E.S.H team and the ever graceful Moon Sharma for their time, love and hospitality during my visit to Dehli mid April 19.

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Fair Trade Travels: Interview with Fairtrade Pioneer Moon Sharma of Tara Projects, Dehli, India - April 2019

Fair Trade Travels: Interview with Fairtrade Pioneer Moon Sharma of Tara Projects, Dehli, India - April 2019

It was an absolute pleasure and honour to meet with Moon Sharma of Tara Projects.

Apa (Big Sister) as she is lovingly known spent an evening talking about her travels around the world, Tara Projects, fairtrade and shared stories of Gateshead and Newcastle.

Apa! Thank you so much for your kindness, time and beautiful gifts.

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From Dubai to Dehli - Fair Trade Travels with Sabeena Ahmed

From Dubai to Dehli - Fair Trade Travels with Sabeena Ahmed

It was a dream come true to final land in the native country of my parents birth, India.

I arrived in Dehli and was greeted by a beautiful warm evening.

What followed was one of the most memorable weeks of my life.

I met distant family and visited two World Fair Trade Certified Organizations, M.E.S.H and Tara Projects.

Many thanks to Mathew K and Ms Moon Sharma for their time.

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Fair Trade Travels: Visit to Fairtrade producers M.E.S.H, Dehli, India - April 2019

Fair Trade Travels: Visit to Fairtrade producers M.E.S.H, Dehli, India - April 2019

It was a dream come true to finally travel to the country of my parents birth, India.

I arrived in Dehli and was greeted by a beautiful warm evening.

I was humbled and privileged to visit two World Fair Trade Certified Organizations, M.E.S.H and Tara Projects.

Many thanks to Mathew K and Ms Moon Sharma for their time, care and hospitality.

Sadly, I was unable to interview Mathew, Ms Jacky Bonnie or the producer groups on this occasion and hope to interview them the next time I visit.

 

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April 2019 - Newsletter Video Blog Summary

April 2019 - Newsletter Video Blog Summary

This April I was asked to judge five social enterprises at the Middlesex University Dubai.

 

I travelled to Dehli, India to visit family and meet fairtrade producers M.E.S.H and Tara Projects.

 

Despite struggling with my shoulders I completed my Six Items Challenge for the eighth consecutive year.

 

I interviewed Alex and Marie-Louise of Valy Export, Madagascar.

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