In the Dailies

Giving Gifts

November 30, 2009

Last year I posted about wanting a goat for Christmas. My list hasn’t changed too much in the year since. Sure, there are things that I want. Like all insatiable Americans, I drool over handbags and jewelry and silly nothings in my consumeristic, obsessive discontent. But when I really think about my life, I know I have everything I could ever want. And so much more than I deserve.

Last year I praised WorldVision and Samaritan’s Purse for the gifts they offer “for those who have everything.” In honor of someone here, you can purchase a goat for a starving family in Africa or a fishing kit for a struggling family in Asia. When you purchase your gift, you also receive a beautiful card that tells your loved one about the gift and the difference it can make in the life of the recipient, even in the whole village. With OneVerse you pay to have passages of Scripture translated into another language, again in honor of a gift recipient here at home.

Sometimes, though, we want to give “real” gifts and not just a donation in someone’s name. Sometimes we just want something to wrap. I suggest we can be charitable with our tangible gifts.

Here are a number of sites that promote fair trade AND charitable causes. Some are Christian organizations that couple native sustainability with the spread of the Gospel. Others are non-profit, non-religious organizations that simply strive to meet the needs of those suffering from poverty, human trafficking and other social injustices. I’ve organized the list alphabetically. Next to the name is a list of items they offer. Below that is a description of the ministry and the people they help.

Bajalia: Jewelry, Baskets, Stationary and more
All items are crafted by local women seeking to rise above oppression. You can shop by product, cause (poverty, AIDS, trafficking, etc.) or region (Afghanistan, China, Uganda, India or Turkey). The organization aids in training and other forms of community development to empower low-income people as they work to improve their lives.

Blessing Basket: Baskets, Totes and Woven Handbags
This organization fights poverty by paying Prosperity Wages (higher than fair trade) to local artisans in Bangladesh, Uganda, Madagascar and Ghana. You can shop online or find local retailers within the United States.

Cards from Africa: Handcrafted cards
A Christian organization, CFA offers employment, business training and other income opportunities to poor living in Rwanda. The organization also seeks to meet their spiritual needs through biblical teaching and training.

Freeset: Eco-friendly bags and organic cotton tee-shirts
Purchases from Freeset empower women in India to escape sex trade by offering them employment and education: reading, writing, budgeting skills and basic health care. The organization also offers child-care for these women while they gain training and work to make the bag

Good Paper: Greeting cards, handbags (made from recycled papers), journals and stationary
A free trade organization offering highly creative paper products from communities that provide jobs to the most vulnerable of society, Good Paper alleviates poverty, helps orphans and socially oppressed peoples in Africa, India and the Philippines.

Hand and Cloth: Blankets
Through creative enterprise and the transforming love of Jesus Christ, this organization seeks to empower women to begin new lives outside the red-light districts. The blankets are made from recylced sari material (the traditional Indian dress for women). Participants in the ministry receive employment, training and regular Bible studies.

Punjammies: Pajamas
Created in an after-care facility for women who have been rescued, released or escaped from a life of forced prostitution.

Rahab Ministries: Jewelry
Your from this organization with help them share the love of Jesus through friendship evangelism and social concern. The ministry specifically targets women trying to escape prostitution in Thailand.

Saint’s Coffee: Coffee
Buy one pound of coffee and feed an orphan for a month! This free-trade organization offers the high-quality organic coffee while using the proceeds to partner with humanitarian organizations such as 5 for Fifty and Children’s Hope Chest, both Christian organizations that share the Gospel while caring for orphans.

Ten Thousand Villages: Various items — jewelry, housewares, baskets, home decor, stationary, musical instruments and more
Working with over 130 artisan groups in 38 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, this is one of the world’s oldest and largest fair trade organization.

Entry Filed under: Christmas, creativity, gifts, ministry, poverty, social justice. Tags: abuse, fair trade, gifts, poverty, social justice.