Fair Trade Fair Means Fair Wage for Artisans Around the World

One of the interesting activities being provided at our convention this year is the Fair Trade Fair. Lutheran World Relief and SERRV International (a nonprofit organization) have teamed up to organize this program. Western Zone president Kathy Bohlken has brought this unique project to our convention.

Between the hours or 3PM and 6PM on Friday and the hours of 3PM and 9PM on Saturday, convention attendees may visit the "Fair Trade Fair" store, located just off the lobby of the hotel. The Fair Trade Fair is a store full of handmade items crafted by highly skilled artisans from around the world. The goal of the Fair Trade Fair is to provice these artisans, who mostly live in developing areas of the world, with a fair and dependable wage so that they can feed their families and send their children to school.

Ninety-two point five percent of all sales go directly back to the atrisans themselves. Seven poin five percent goes to Lutheran World Mission projects around the globe. Zero percent goes to SERRV International, the company who makes all of the arrangements on behalf of the artisans.

This afternoon, I sat down and talked with Kathy Bohlken and her assistant, Sandy Reeder. The store had only been open for an hour and a half, but they had already sold $406 worth of merchandise. Kathy told me that they had sold mostlly coffee, scraves, chocolate, and jewelery. They also stock beauticul teacups and teapots, coffee cups, birdhouses, and wind chimes, as well as many other beautiful items.

So, if you are at convention, stop in and say hello. You may find a special treasure or gift. And if you're looking for a fun activity to host back home, consider hosting a Fair Trade Fair.