Hello, I'm Sabeena, a fairtrade campaigner, educator and social entrepreneur.
I've also had cystic and hormonal acne, reactive and sensitive for over 30 years.
For all those who suffer with or have cystic and hormonal acne, I empathise and understand the physical, mental and emotional stress and pain you experience on a daily basis.
Its affected my confidence and how I felt for most of my life.
In this blog I write about my acne journey and hope it will help those struggling with cystic and hormonal acne.
This month I continued to heal from surgery.
Completed the prestigious World Literacy Foundation Ambassador 2020 Program and
Attended Ethical Consumer Week 2020 via virtual sessions.
This October I attended online Ethical Consumer Week Conference 2020.
This is a short summary of some of the sessions I attended.
The conference began Saturday 24th October and concluded Friday 30th October 2020.
Many thanks to all the guest speakers and the Ethical Consumer team for an informative and inspiring week!
I look forward to the catch up session.
This month I continued to heal from surgery.
Participated in Zero Waste Week 2020.
Continued learning about literacy on the prestigious World Literacy Foundation Ambassador 2020 Program and
visited the Makers Market West Didsbury, Manchester.
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.
This is my humble effort to reduce my plastic consumption and waste for Zero Waste Week 2020.
I've been very poorly this year and hope to support the Zero Waste movement with zest and vigour next year.
This month I continued to heal from surgery.
Continued learning about literacy on the prestigious World Literacy Foundation Ambassador 2020 Program and
flew to London to attend my father in law's funeral.
This month I continued to heal from surgery.
Participated in my second Plastic Free July 2020.
Was accepted on the prestigious World Literacy Foundation Ambassador 2020 Program and
completed my Future Learn MOOC - The Power of Podcasting For Storytelling.
This is my second year participating in Plastic Free July and due to my three surgeries and Covid-19 I have found the challenge difficult.
The UAE ethical movement is still in its infancy and substitutes for products like reusable/circular feminine hygiene and natural beauty products for acne/sensitive skin are limited.
I hope to continue my plastic/zero waste journey and hope to gradually reduce my consumption of menstrual hygiene and cleaning products and learn how to make my own soap, body wash, bread, conditioner and compost my waste..
It will be a long work in progress, but I'm optimistic.
This is my summary about how I am consciously trying to live a fair trade ethical life.
This blog illustrates the small steps I have taken to live a life free of clutter, materialism and throw away society.
It has been a natural progression from fair trade campaigner, educator and social entrepreneur to ethical consumer.
During the last week of Ramadan, June/July 2016 on a hot bright sunny morning I took a flight to Beirut, Lebanon.
I'd never been to an International Fair Trade Towns Conference but was excited to know that I would be representing the United Arab Emirates.
This month I continued to heal from surgery.
Embraced Ramadan 2020 under Covid-19 conditions by participating in Observing Ramadan in Britain/Overseas Research project.
Supported World Fair Trade Day 2020, Dubai, UAE by recording a video and promoted fair trade artisans.
I was so excited and anxious to display all the beautiful WFTO certified products at Safa Park Dubai.
The World Fair Trade Organization's Campaign for World Fair Trade Day May 2009 was:
BEAT POVERY
BEAT CLIMATE CHANGE
BEAT FINANCIAL CRISIS
BEAT A DRUM
09 MAY 09
A BIG DAY FOR THE PLANET
To read more click below.
This year the World Fair Trade Organization campaign has the following hastags
#PlanetFairTrade,
#FairTradeSolidarity and
#StayHomeLiveFair
The world is still living under Covid-19 conditions and it is paramount that I support all farmers, workers, employees, and artisans by promoting them.
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.
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.
For the past 30 years I have lived with Endometriosis and PCOS.
This is my personal insight of living with Endometriosis and PCOS.
Most female social entrepreneurs I know are multi talented, ambitious and innovative.
I feel blessed to be a member of an exclusive club of makers and doers. All action, brain storming, endless ethical learning, strategy and conversations.
I love that part of my life!
However, there is a part of my life that most people don't know about.
The days where I can't get out of bed, struggle to get household chores done and don't have the energy to answer emails, WhatsApp messages or call family.
This is my reality most days of the week but you would never know looking at me.
This month I had emergency surgery for a ruptured cyst,
was featured by Pioneers Post, participated in my eighth Six Items Challenge 2020 with Labour Behind The Label and
celebrated Earth Hour Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Hello! My name is Sabeena Ahmed.
I'm a fairtrade campaigner, educator and social entrepreneur.
I was born and educated in Manchester, UK.
I'm a qualified PGCE ESOL Practitioner, adore fairtrade chocolate and support breast cancer research.
I promote the sustainable development goals, fair trade ethical living and the circular economy.
This is a brief summary of my fairtrade activities and campaigns in the United Arab Emirates spanning 2009 to 2020.
I celebrated Fairtrade Fortnight and International Women's Day 2020 Dubai, UAE with my sister Irem.
This year the Fairtrade Foundation UK's campaign is all about the women, who grow the cocoa in the chocolate. The hashtag is #SHEDESERVES.
I was so pleased to learn about the House of Commons UK also supports Fairtrade Fortnight 2020.
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.
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.
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.
This January I decided to start my year of self-care, healing and fulfilling ambitions by supporting a fantastic social enterprise Goumbook.
It also reminded me of my mothers love for nature and gardening.
On a beautiful Saturday morning I headed over to the Sustainable City, Dubai to participate in the Give A Ghaf Tree Initiative.
Sign up to get the latest on fair trade fashion.
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.
© 2025 The Little Fair Trade Shop. “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 Shop Ltd
Registered in England & Wales
Company Number 08189489
