This July I edited my interview with Alex Schmidt and
Marie Louise of Valy Export Madagascar.
Participated in Plastic Free July 2019 and
completed a MOOC with Future Learn titled
Fashion's Future: Sustainable Development Goals Fashion Revolution
I was pleasantly surprised to receive an email from Alex Schmidt from Valy Export Madagascar mid April.
I invited him and his wife Marie Louise for lunch to learn more about their fair trade business.
During the visit I politely asked if the couple would like to participate in an interview, they agreed.
Although, a little camera shy I hope the interviews below provide consumers with an insight about their fairtrade activities and information about their products and future plans.
Introduction Interview in English and Malagasy
What inspired you to start Valy Export?
What's the most rewarding part of your job?
Is there a fairtrade movement in Madagascar?
To watch more of their interview click here.
Plastic Free July was started by Rebecca Prince-Ruiz and a small team of local government in Western Australia, it is now one of the most influential environmental campaigns in the world.
Millions of people across the globe take part every year, with many committing to reducing plastic pollution far beyond the month of July.
Source: Plastic Free July
This year I am determined to reduce my plastic consumption and try to educate others in the process.
Credit: Plastic Free July Official YouTube Channel
Credit: Plastic Free July
Credit: Earth Changers
Day 1
So I began Plastic Free July with a Plastic Free Teabags.
Clipper Plastic Free Tea Bags
Clipper Plastic Free Tea Bags
Day 2
I was so happy to receive my reusable tea cup!
Traidcraft 40th Anniversary reusable cup
Traidcraft 40th Anniversary reusable cup and sustainable packaging,
a thumbs up from me!
Day 3
This jute bag holds precious memories of my beloved Mum and our visit to Edinburgh during her struggle with metastatic breast cancer.
Mum has returned to her maker but her precious memories remain...
My Edinburgh jute bag
My Edinburgh jute bag with label
Day 4
For the past 3 years I've replaced my hand wash with
organic hand made soap.
Organic hand made soap
Day 5
As a fairtrade campaigner and educator with sensitive skin and eyes I'm so pleased to advocate and promote Odylique.
Odylique - fairtrade, organic, vegan and cruelty black eye liner pencil
Odylique - fairtrade, organic, vegan and cruelty black eye liner pencil
Odylique - fairtrade, organic, vegan and cruelty black eye liner pencil used by a poorly flu ridden Sabeena
Day 6
I love herbal teas and purchased this gorgeous robot diffuser to reduce my teabag
and sugar intake.
Robot tea diffuser
Robot tea diffuser - with loose Jasmine Pearl tea
Robot tea diffuser
My lovely Montezuma mug, Robot tea diffuser and recycled coffee cup coaster
Day 7
I love fairtrade chocolate!
I had the privilege to learn form the best.
I spent a morning making bean to bar chocolate
with Bruce Crowther MBE.
Bruce Crowther and Sabeena Ahmed - Chocolate Master Class using
fairly traded cocoa beans
Fairly traded chocolate hand made by Sabeena Ahmed
and Bruce Crowther MBE reducing plastic consumption
Bruce Crowther MBE's
guest comments
Day 8
I invited Isatou Ceesay and environmental activist and
author of 'One Plastic Bag to come and stay with me in Dubai.
Sabeena Ahmed with environmental activist and autor Isatou Ceesay
Environmental activist and autor Isatou Ceesay signing copies of
One Plastic Bag
A recycled plastic purse hand made by Isatou Ceesay and
the Recycling Women of Gambia.
A wonderful initiative to reduce plastic bag consumption in Gambia
Day 9
For the past 8 years I have been participating in the Six Items Challenge with Labour Behind The Label - a fashion fast for garment workers to receive a living wage and decent working condtions.
Six Items Challenge 2019 with Sabeena Ahmed and
Labour Behind The Label
Labour Behind The Label
Clothes & Textiles are the No.1 source of micro plastics in the oceans
Sustainable Development Goal 12 -
Responsible Consumption and Production
Day 10
I watched the Bag It
documentary again
Credit: ReelThingFilms
Bag It DVD
Bag It DVD - Plastic Free July
Bag It DVD
Day 11
I received my copy of Ethical Consumer Magazine and was particularly inspired by
the guide on Zero Waste Menstrual Products
Ethical Consumer Magazine July/August 19
Ethical Consumer Magazine July/August 19
Ethical Consumer Magazine July/August 19
Ethical Consumer Magazine July/August 19
Day 12
A Polite reminder!
Did you forget?
Its never too late to join the Plastic Free July Challenge?
Here's a practical calendar to help you get started.
Courtesy of Cleanaway.com.au
Day 13
I decided to purchase some Chia Seeds and was happy to see that the packaging was brown paper.
Organic Chia Seeds in Brown Paper Packaging
Organic Chia Seeds in Brown Paper Packaging
Day 14
I visited my local supermarket and was saddened to learn that the Loose/Zero Concept section was being removed.
Loose Zero Waste Concept closing due to the lack of customer footfall
at my local supermarket, Dubai
Day 15
I try to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
My pretty bottle top tray is used to store my paper and letters.
Up-cycled bottle top tray, hand made, Kenya
Up-cycled bottle top tray, hand made Kenya
Up-cycled bottle top tray, hand made Kenya
To read more of my Plastic Free July journey click here
I enrolled on the Future Learn MOOC Fashion's Future: Sustainable Development Goals Future Learn and studied how the sustainable goals are linked to fashion.
The Global Goals for Sustainable Development
Goal 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Goal 5 - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Be an ''Agent for Change'' and take a selfie of yourself with the Sustainable Development Goals by downloading them from the link below.
The Worlds Largest Lesson - The Global Goals for Sustainable Development.
Use the hashtag #SDG's #FashionRevolution #Fashionsfuture every time you post your photos or anything about the course.
Write a letter or email to your favourite brand/s and ask them if they are supporting the Sustainable Development Goals.
Repair and love the clothes you have!
Educate others...
#FairTradeInnovates by empowering women
Photograph courtesy of Mr Feroz Khan and my Fairphone 2, 17,418
Certificate tba here
I hope to upload my certificate of participation soon.
Valy Export (Website unavailable)
Interview with Alex Schmidt and Marie Louise
Plastic Free July with Sabeena Ahmed
Fashion's Future: Sustainable Development Goals Fashion Revolution
The World Fair Trade Organization and Anti Poverty Week
The Worlds Largest Lesson - The Global Goals for Sustainable Development
AnaHata Dubai's Community Service Blog - Fair Trade Breaks Poverty
My right shoulder is still very painful and inflamed again and I have struggled to type this blog.
Despite my pain I managed to attend a webinar and record videos about PIE Community members expressing an interest to join.
I celebrated World Cancer Day 2024 by creating a poster in Urdu and English.
I participated in a School for Social Entrepreneur webinar with Chris Hines MBE.
Translation in Urdu
My sister sent me links to webinars about Great Mental Health Day which took place 26th January 2024.
I am grateful to all the guest speakers and trainers who took time out of their busy schedules to talk about Suicide Prevention, Bereavement and Write to Speak Your Poetry.
Translation in Urdu
میری بہن نے مجھے عظیم دماغی صحت کے دن کے بارے میں ویبینرز کے لنکس بھیجے جو 26 جنوری 2024 کو ہوا تھا۔
میں ان تمام مہمان مقررین اور ٹرینرز کا مشکور ہوں جنہوں نے اپنے مصروف شیڈول میں سے وقت نکال کر خودکشی کی روک تھام، سوگ اور اپنی شاعری لکھنے کے بارے میں بات کی۔
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to all my fair trade friends and family around the world.
My right shoulder is still very painful and inflamed again and I have struggled to type this blog.
Despite my pain I managed to attend a webinar and record videos about PIE Community members expressing an interest to join.
I joined a couple of sessions about Mental Health and Suicide Training.
These sessions were organised by THRIVE LDN.
Translation in Urdu
نیا سال مبارک ہو!
دنیا بھر میں میرے تمام منصفانہ تجارتی دوستوں اور اہل خانہ کو نیا سال مبارک ہو۔
میرا دایاں کندھا اب بھی بہت تکلیف دہ ہے اور دوبارہ سوجن ہے اور میں نے اس بلاگ کو ٹائپ کرنے کے لیے جدوجہد کی ہے۔
اپنی تکلیف کے باوجود میں ایک ویبنار میں شرکت کرنے اور کمیونٹی کے ممبران کے بارے میں ویڈیوز ریکارڈ کرنے میں کامیاب ہو گی جو اس میں شامل ہونے میں دلچسپی کا اظہار کرتے ہیں۔
میں دماغی صحت اور خودکشی کی تربیت کے بارے میں کچھ سیشنز میں شامل ہوے۔
ان سیشنز کا اہتمام THRIVE LDN نے کیا تھا۔
Sign up to get the latest on fair trade fashion.
I'm Sabeena Ahmed owner and creator of The Little Fair Trade Shop. I've been an individual associate member of the World Fair Trade Organization since 2011 and together with my artisans I bring you a bespoke collection of ethically sourced fashion & gifts.
© 2024 The Little Fair Trade Shop. “We love to listen to our customers and for this reason we would be delighted to hear from you if you would like a bespoke fair trade product made especially for you.”
The Little Fair Trade Shop Ltd
Registered in England & Wales
Company Number 08189489
