This September I travelled to Sharjah to attend the third part of the Social Entrepreneurship Programme in Sharjah, UAE with the Badiri Academy and the School for Social Entrepreneurs London and Cornwall.
Many thanks to the NAMA and SSE's teams for their support.
This August I travelled to the UK to attend the UK leg of the Social Entrepreneurship Programme in
London and Cornwall with the Badiri Academy and the School for Social Entrepreneurs London and Cornwall.
Many thanks to the NAMA and SSE's teams for their support.
This July I traveled to the UK and visited the London Textile Fair with my dear friend Sunita.
I attended the UK leg of the Social Entrepreneurship Programme in
London with the Badiri Academy, NAMA and the School for Social Entrepreneurs London and Cornwall.
Many thanks to all the guest speakers and the NAMA and SSE's teams for their support, expertise and wisdom.
This June I collapsed at the end of Ramadan and required urgent IVs for iron, glucose and vitamins. Betathalasemia minor is pain!
During the final week of June I traveled to Thailand to visit Sister Louise of the Good Shepherd Sisters Bangkok and Mr Stephen Salmon of the Heritage Crafts and Cafe, (ThaiCraft) Bangkok, Thailand.
Many thanks to Sister Louise and Mrs Salmon for taking time out of their busy schedules to talk about their pioneering work.
This May I was accepted onto the Badiri Social Enterprise and the School for Social Entrepreneurs Scholarship Progam 2018, UAE.
I received a message from Mr Anuj Agarwal Founder of Feedspot to say The Little Fair Trade blog had been included in a comprehensive list of the top 25 Fair Trade Blogs on the internet.
Embraced the blessed holy month of Ramadan once again.
Miranda Paul fair trade advocate and children's author visits Sharjah and Dubai, UAE.
This April I was invited to judge social entrepreneurs at the Middlesex University Dubai.
I continued to trade at the Boutique Market at JBR.
Met my dear friend Miranda Paul, fairtrade advocate and children's author who was attending the Sharjah International Children's Book Fair.
Applied for scholarship with the Badri Social Enterprise in association with the School for Social Entrepreneurs London, UK.
I've been meaning to write an article illustrating my fair trade journey for the
Sister-hood team for some time but then I had surgery for a rototar cuff and everything stopped.
After months of painful physiotherapy I finally edited my interview.
This April I was invited 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.
I had the good fortune to travel to Oxford during my visit to the United Kingdom.
I am very grateful to Clare and Miranda for taking time out of their busy schedules to conduct interviews with me.
I look forward to returning to beautiful Oxford soon.
This March I was privileged to meet Professor Muhammad Yunus again.
Celebrated the second week of Fair Trade Fortnight 2018, Dubai, UAE.
Continued trading at the Boutique Market at JBR and asked friends to support my Six Items Challenge 2018 and participated in Earth Hour Dubai 2018.
Despite my slow recovery for this dodgy right shoulder this year I celebrated Fairtrade Fortnight 2018 in Dubai with friends and had the privilege to meet Professor Muhammad Yunus again.
Many thanks to Leah, Glenda, Professor Muhammad Yunus and all my fabulous fairtrade friends and supporters in Dubai.
So what are you waiting for?
This February I met with Mr Hassan Bello of the Ajala Project.
Was a panelist at the SHETRADES MENA HUB LAUNCH.
Started my Six Items Challenge 2018 and celebrated Fairtrade Fortnight 2018.
So here I am for the sixth consecutive year participating in the Six Items Challenge with Labour Behind The Label.
This year the challenge commences 14th February - 29th March 2018.
Six Items Challenge 2018
Everyday Hero Six Items Challenge 2018 - The Lilfairtrade Shop
For those interested I have also attached links to the Six Items Challenges, 2017, 2016 and 2012 - 2015.
https://www.thelittlefairtradeshop.com/blogs/news/six-items-challenge-2017
Six Items Challenge 2016
Six Items Challenge 2012-2015
By sheer chance and after a coffee with Ms Arwa Hassan Al Qassim of Dubai Culture early February 2018 I was politely asked if I would like to be a panelist at the SheTrades MENA Launch. I said YES!
Many thanks to Dr Ashraf Mahate Chief Economist at the Government of Dubai and Dubai Exports and Ms Al Qassim for providing me with a platform to talk about my passion ''FAIR TRADE.''
This January I started trading at The Boutique Market at JBR, Dubai, UAE.
I invited two wonderful Social Enterprise lecturers from the Middlesex University Dubai to lunch at the Olea Restaurant Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates.
Received a new consignment of fair trade and fairly traded organic toys.
This December I was privileged and honoured to participate at the Swiss Business Council for the second time.
Many thanks to Ms Charoline Engel, Claudine and her team for organising another successful market.
It was lovely to finally meet the team from the Women's World Project, Manchester in association with The Pankhurst Centre.
I had a lovely afternoon meeting strong willed, ambitious, beautiful women.
During my visit to my home city of Manchester I attended the North West Regional Fair Trade Conference.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable intensive day and I was exhausted by its end and had to rest my poor shoulder.
Many thanks to Chrisi, Adam and the Fairtrade Foundation team for organising this event.
Whilst recovering from my rotator cuff surgery. I received my signed copies of 'I AM ROHINGYA' theatre production brochure and Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls 2.
I attended the North West Regional Fair Trade Conference at Salford University, Manchester, UK.
Participated at the Women's Word Manchester workshop at Gorton Library, Manchester.
Had dinner with my creative director Helen Barlow Scott.
Visited the St Michael Shop at Oxford and had lunch with Miranda St of Oxford Coalition Fair Trade.
On the 17th October my friend and World Pulse Digital Change Maker Joanna Smieja came to visit me in Dubai and we celebrated Anti-Poverty Week 2017.
We had a great time and she thoroughly enjoyed her first visit to the United Arab Emirates. I hope there will be many more!!!
I am grateful to Jo for recording these interviews in English, Polish and being a great sport at teaching me Polish and learning Urdu.
This year the World Fair Trade Organization asked for my support with their Anti Poverty Week 2017 campaign #LiveFair & #BeatPoverty.
During the week I attended a Coffee Morning organised by my friend Maryam and kindly asked ladies to support Anti-Poverty Week 2017, Dubai, UAE.
I talked about Fair Trade, Fair Trade Chocolate and Anti Poverty Week.
There were approximately 30 ladies present and I made a few fair trade friends.
I also asked my dear friend Joanna who was visiting me from Poland to model for me.
Joanna was a great sport and I am grateful for her support during Anti Poverty Week.
To read more please click here and support social and trade justice!
Thank you! Sabeena
This October I was interviewed by Voice of Islam Radio Station, London, UK.
My interview with Paksy Plackis-Chang and Impact Mania was released on Twitter and Facebook.
I presented fair trade to ladies at a coffee morning.
I finally had my surgery for my rotater cuff. My right shoulder is painful but healing.
I welcomed my friend Joanna Smieja from Poland. It was Joanna's first visit to Dubai and the UAE.
Suported Anti-Poverty Week 2017, Dubai, UAE.
Recorded my tribute to my beloved mother for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Received my ''This Is Manchester'' tribute book.
I was invited by Manor Primary School and children of Year 5 to talk about fair trade.
We started the lesson by watching the Max Havelaar Chocolate Song.
The world in my shopping basket - children learnt where fair trade products came from.
Year 5 tasted fairtrade Divine Milk Chocolate and Green & Blacks Maya Gold.
The children watched a fairtrade video about Tayna a young girl who visited cocoa farmers and their communities in the Dominican Republic.
Children learnt about the fair price, social premium, social standards and the environment.
The children showed their support for fair trade and we ended the session with lots of happy memories.
I hope they will be the future fair trade stars and campaigners in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates.