Fair Trade

The basis on which we work

We know that for the majority of people visiting this site, the most important question you will have is, are Point of Contact genuinely Fair Trade?  Perhaps the most effective way we can answer this is simply to suggest you navigate to the PRODUCERS bar, click on it, and then click on the word "TESTIMONIALS" at the end of the text - and read what our partners have to say!  We believe that as you read their words, you will be left in no doubt as to the integrity and authenticity of what we are doing.  You can also navigate to the VIDEOS bar, and go to the 2010 batch of films, and watch the short version of Sheshige’s Story (here less than 3 minutes).  But for now, if you read on, you can find out what our particular approach to Fair Trade involves.

How we go about business

We feel it is important to stress at the outset that Fair Trade involves far more than just a fair price.  This is of course not to detract from the importance of a fair price, but it is to emphasize that price alone will not lead to healthy and sustainable businesses.

After working in Ethiopia since 1999, we believe that the most important ingredient to seeing fruit from our labour is the type of relationships that we have established with our partner groups.  Indeed, we would go as far as saying that a fair price without real relationship is dangerous!  Please do not misunderstand what I am saying here.  This is not to backtrack on the importance of a fair price, but to emphasize that if this is not coupled with solid relationships, then we do not believe that one’s work will grow and flourish.  In short, and with the help of a gardening analogy, if a healthy plant is the result of good gardening, then we believe that the growth of a group (in terms of the number of people impacted and their prosperity over the long-term), does not come from simply watering them with money or orders, but the soil in which they grow needs to be tended and nurtured at the same time too.

Point of Contact and Fair Trade

Below is a list of principles that we work by.  Whilst we have not put them in an exact order of priority, for most of these things have to be done simultaneously, we do believe that the following 7 items are foundational (although not exhaustive):

• Establishing relationships of trust, love and mutual accountability with partners;

• Paying a Fair price;

• Paying advance payments to ease cash flow problems for workers;

• Helping groups to overcome internal conflicts and to grow in unity;

• Encouraging and developing individuals’ creative gifts;

• Developing mutually beneficial partnerships between different workgroups;

• Managing increases in production so that groups grow in a sustainable way.

Also, in our own local communities, both in the UK and in Ethiopia (and especially in UK schools), we act as advocates for Fair Trade and Trade Justice so as to promote their greater acceptance and growth within society.  This is because we believe that it is important to work for change at both the macro level, as well as locally at the micro level where we are.