Traidcraft
A HELPING HAND!
Did you know that Traidcraft’s delicious Fairtrade sugar from Mauritius is packed by hand?
Craft Aid's packing unit is deliberately labour intensive so it can provide employment for disabled workers, including some men and women who are deaf and speech-impaired. The 500g bags of sugar are packed, sealed, checked and then put into cartons, ready to be shipped.
Traidcraft was the very first buyer of sugar from Craft Aid in 1985. Today, Craft Aid ships out 120 containers per year. By working with the government of Mauritius, Craft Aid has invested in the packing plant, in metal detectors, in conveyor belts and in printers.
All of this provides employment for people like Johanne Martinel (pictured) who weighs the individual bags of sugar. Working on Traidcraft orders helps her to provide for her baby son.
Craft Aid's influence goes much further though. The first five sugar cooperatives in Mauritius had their FLO certification costs funded by Craft Aid. Soon, thirty-two of the 165 sugar co-ops on the island will be FLO certified. The Mauritian government has been so impressed by Fair Trade that they have set up a scheme to help sugar co-operatives obtain Fairtrade accreditation by providing soft loans for up to 75% of the cost of consultancy and application.
Helping Hands