“We love to listen to our customers and for this reason we would be delighted to hear from you if you would like a bespoke fair trade product made especially for you.”

The Little Fair Trade Blog

January 2020 - Newsletter Video Blog Summary

January 2020 - Newsletter Video Blog Summary

Happy New Year!

This month despite being very poorly and being hospitalised most of the month with high blood pressure, I continued with Plastic Free July and purchased a bamboo toothbrush.

Started an Up-cycling From Green Ideas to Starting a Business - Living in Minca and supported Gombook's Give A Ghaf Planting Tree Program at Sustainable City, Dubai.

Continue Reading →


Fair Trade Travels - An evening with Heart & Parcel, Manchester, UK

Fair Trade Travels - An evening with Heart & Parcel, Manchester, UK

Despite having the mother of all colds I trundled my way to Cultureplex, Manchester on a cold winter evening to support a wonderful social enterprise  called Heart & Parcel.

Continue Reading →


Common Purpose and The Pakistani Disapora Leaders Programme - October 2019, London, UK

Common Purpose and The Pakistani Disapora Leaders Programme - October 2019, London, UK

I wrote to the Common Purpose London team late September and was accepted on their prestigious 5 day Pakistani Disapora Leaders Programme. 
Here is my summary of the Program.
 
Many thanks to Common Purpose team Ms Joanna Hancox and
Mr Mohammad Aladham and Chief Executive Alison Coburn for making the program accessible and providing medical assistance and dietary requirements.

Continue Reading →


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.

Continue Reading →


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.

Continue Reading →


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.

Continue Reading →


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.

Continue Reading →


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.

Continue Reading →


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.

 

Continue Reading →


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.

Continue Reading →


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.

Continue Reading →


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 

Continue Reading →


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.

Continue Reading →


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.

 

Continue Reading →


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.

Continue Reading →


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.

Continue Reading →


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.

Continue Reading →


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.

Continue Reading →


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.

 

Continue Reading →


Social Enterprise Showcase 2019 - Middlesex University Dubai

Social Enterprise Showcase 2019 - Middlesex University Dubai

This April I was invited once again to judge 5 social enterprise businesses at the Middlesex University Dubai. 

Many thanks to Shanthi Rajan, Sandra Stevenson, Suzannah Fernandes and Dr Michael Kloep and Dr Cody Paris for their hospitality.

It was a difficult decision as all the social enterprises were winners.

Congratulations to Pentagon and their initiative Mihriban for their concept and vision.

Continue Reading →


March 2019 - Newsletter Video Blog Summary

March 2019 - Newsletter Video Blog Summary

This March my play was performed by actors at at the Emirates Literature Foundation.

 

I was chosen as a finalist as Change maker of the Year for Be the Change Awards 2019  and Ethical Hour.

 

Despite struggling with my shoulders I participated in the Six Items Challenge for the eighth year.

I enrolled on the Be The Change Course with Oxfam and the Open University.

I welcomed environmental activist Isatou Ceesay and her son Madou to Dubai.

Continue Reading →


Ethical Pioneer - Interview with Isatou Ceesay, co author of One Plastic Bag visits Dubai, UAE, March/April 2019

Ethical Pioneer - Interview with Isatou Ceesay, co author of One Plastic Bag visits Dubai, UAE, March/April 2019

Isatou Ceesay and son Madou stayed with me for 5 days during their 7 day visit

to Dubai.

Isatou Ceesay is an environmental activist and social entrepreneur from Njau, Gambia.

For over 18 years she has been reducing the use of single use plastic.

She has co-authored a book about her plastic journey titled One Plastic Journey with Miranda Paul who I interviewed  April 19.

Continue Reading →


World Pulse Ambassador UAE - March 2019

World Pulse Ambassador UAE - March 2019

February 2019 I applied to become an ambassador with World Pulse.

My application was accepted.

Continue Reading →


Fairtrade Fortnight 2019 - Dubai and the United Arab Emirates

Fairtrade Fortnight 2019 - Dubai and the United Arab Emirates

This year I celebrated Fairtrade Fortnight 2019 Dubai with friends.

What is Fairtrade Fortnight?

For two weeks each year, thousands of individuals, companies and groups across the UK come together to celebrate the people who grow our food, people who live in some of the poorest countries in the world and who are often exploited and badly paid.

This year the Fairtrade Foundation are focusing on the people, in particular the women who grow the cocoa in the chocolate we love so much. 

Continue Reading →



 

Sign up for fair trade awesome!
Enter your email to be the first to receive news of product launches, discounts and ethical fashion campaigns.