Click on a letter for alphabetically listed participants: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z WORLD WOMEN TRADE FAIR. The World Women Trade Fair will be showcasing and selling a range of High Designer Quality felt accessories-Hats, scarfs, bags, belts, jewelry and soft home furnishings and decorative objects produced by women cooperatives in Kyrgyzstan Central Asia . Altyn Oimok was created in 1996 after the collapse of the Soviet Union to train women in traditional felt making to earn income to support themselves and their families. Unemployment was very high and the men unable to support their families, turned to alcohol .The group received skills training from USA based Aid to Artisans on small business development and how to make high quality products for the export market. There are 16 full-time staff in their office and workshop, and 35 women who work with them from their homes and are paid well for piece work. A Fund has been established for women trained at the workshops to start their own production cooperatives.Their market has been focused on the tourists who come to enjoy the Lake Issyk Kul. Monastic handmade artisan sweets produced by Cistercian Nuns near San Sebastian Spain who use the income to support the poor in developing countries.The nuns make the sweets themselves and the groups that they support in Cameroon train small scale cocoa farmers in organic farming and how to negotiate fair prices for their products. World Women Trade Fair 3110 Jojoba Terrace, Palmdale.CA.93550.USA Tel.661-456-2286. Fax.818-830-3665 Contact: Margaret Galabe. margaret@worldwomentradefair.com www.worldwomentradefair.com WOW trading WOW AND FAIR TRADE IN ZIMBABWE WOW is a design company that applies Fair Trade principles all along the production chain — working closely with artists on designs, financing the raw materials, monitoring quality and importing the products. It offers retailers and other designers a direct link to a source of unique and evolving crafts in stone, metal and wood. The range comprises mainly interior design gifts and garden accessories with the emphasis on fun and functionality. The designs are conceived, produced and finished mostly by Zimbabweans. They bring together the best of traditional African craft techniques and stringent quality control, and are tailored for Western tastes. Wow aims to contribute to sustainable development by offering workshops that teach and create a support network and access to marketplaces. A strong link to already established HIV/AIDS organisations allows for the added dimension of access to counselling, nutritional advice and support for every person within the companies production chain. Wow is actively engaged in campaigning for changes in the rules and practices of conventional international trade to increase awareness and appreciation of truly handcrafted products. All of us involved in Fair Trade accept that it has to include: Paying fair prices to artists and producers which reflect the true cost of production… world market prices often do not cover even the costs of raw material. Supporting producer organisations in their social and environmental projects, such as developing health facilities, creating co-operatives, providing skills training and career development opportunities. Promoting gender equality in pay and working conditions to change the traditional low position of women in society. Advising on product development to increase access to local and international markets. Committing to long term relationship to provide stability and security Campaigning to highlight the unequal system of world trade which places profit above human rights and threatens our environment. WOW Is a member of BAFTS in the UK and Minga in France Bead Centre Project pdf www.foursquaretrading.co.uk back to top