During the last week of Ramadan, June/July 2016 on a hot bright sunny morning I took a flight to Beirut, Lebanon.
I'd never been to an International Fair Trade Towns Conference but was excited to know that I would be representing the United Arab Emirates.
I expressed an interest to participate in the Observing Ramadan in Britain and Overseas Photo Research Project.
This project was conceived by Phd researcher Laura Jones - Cardiff University.
I've been asked to take at least one photograph for every day of Ramadan and provide a short explanation.
Ramadan Mubarak/Kareem to all my friends and family around the world.
This year the World Fair Trade Organization campaign has the following hastags
#PlanetFairTrade,
#FairTradeSolidarity and
#StayHomeLiveFair
The world is still living under Covid-19 conditions and it is paramount that I support all farmers, workers, employees, and artisans by promoting them.
So here I am for the eighth consecutive year participating in the Six Items Challenge 2020 with Labour Behind The Label.
This year the challenge commenced 26th February - 9th April 2020.
During the fashion fast my beloved grandmother returned to her maker, the world faced Covid 19, I had surgery for a ruptured cyst and observed Lockdown to protect key workers.
Congratulations to all the Sixers and everyone who supported garment workers at this critical time.
This month I continued to heal from surgery for a ruptured cyst,
completed my eighth Six Items Challenge 2020 with Labour Behind The Label and
embraced Ramadan 2020 under Covid-19 conditions by participating in Observing Ramadan in Britain/Overseas Research project.
For the past 30 years I have lived with Endometriosis and PCOS.
This is my personal insight of living with Endometriosis and PCOS.
Most female social entrepreneurs I know are multi talented, ambitious and innovative.
I feel blessed to be a member of an exclusive club of makers and doers. All action, brain storming, endless ethical learning, strategy and conversations.
I love that part of my life!
However, there is a part of my life that most people don't know about.
The days where I can't get out of bed, struggle to get household chores done and don't have the energy to answer emails, WhatsApp messages or call family.
This is my reality most days of the week but you would never know looking at me.
This month I had emergency surgery for a ruptured cyst,
was featured by Pioneers Post, participated in my eighth Six Items Challenge 2020 with Labour Behind The Label and
celebrated Earth Hour Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Hello! My name is Sabeena Ahmed.
I'm a fairtrade campaigner, educator and social entrepreneur.
I was born and educated in Manchester, UK.
I'm a qualified PGCE ESOL Practitioner, adore fairtrade chocolate and support breast cancer research.
I promote the sustainable development goals, fair trade ethical living and the circular economy.
This is a brief summary of my fairtrade activities and campaigns in the United Arab Emirates spanning 2009 to 2020.
I celebrated Fairtrade Fortnight and International Women's Day 2020 Dubai, UAE with my sister Irem.
This year the Fairtrade Foundation UK's campaign is all about the women, who grow the cocoa in the chocolate. The hashtag is #SHEDESERVES.
I was so pleased to learn about the House of Commons UK also supports Fairtrade Fortnight 2020.
The World Fair Trade Organization's Communications team asked me to share the names of inspirational women in my life for International Women's Day 2020.
This years campaign hashtag is #SheEmpowersMe
I chose to mention 4 ladies and invited them to continue the video challenge.
Ms Christina Longden - The Lorna Young Foundation
Ms Samini Bibi - Sabah Pakistan
Ms Roopa Mehta (Apa) - WFTO President
Ms Moon Sharma (Apa) - Tara Projects, India
This month I completed the online MOOC, Up-cycling From Green Ideas to Starting a Business - Living in Minca and
celebrated Fairtrade Fortnight 2020 Dubai, United Arab Emirates with my sister Irem.
Happy New Year!
This month despite being very poorly and being hospitalised most of the month with high blood pressure, I continued with Plastic Free July and purchased a bamboo toothbrush.
Started an Up-cycling From Green Ideas to Starting a Business - Living in Minca and supported Gombook's Give A Ghaf Planting Tree Program at Sustainable City, Dubai.
How it all began my fair trade story video presentation 2019 and graduation award ceremony with Chief Executive of the School For Social Entrepreneurs Mr Alistair Wilson and HE Reem Abdel Rahim BinKaram Director of NAMA Women Advancement and Establishment.
During April/May of 2014 I decided to participate with Practical Action and the Live Below The Line 2014 UK campaign to highlight how 1 billion people around the world slept hungry every night and lived on less than one dollar a day.
The issue is one that is very close to my heart as my fairtrade work focuses on alleviating poverty.
Fairtrade supports the Sustainable Development Goals, and every individual deserves to live with dignity, respect and not spend a single night hungry.
This October I continued with Plastic Free July.
This September I continued with Plastic Free July.
Participated in Zero Waste Week 2019 and Climate Action Day.
Received my certificate for the Future Learn MOOC, Fashion Revolution and the Sustainable Development Goals.
This August I continued with Plastic Free July.
Participated and attended a DIY beauty workshop.
Wrote a food blog for Zero Waste Week 2019 -
How to make Masoor (red split lentils)and Moong (yellow lentils) ki Daal, this recipe was lovingly cooked by my late mother Mrs Meshar Mumtaz Bano.
In this blog I explain how Fairtrade supports the Sustainable Development Goals and how I have attempted to implement them in my everyday work and life.
I have concentrated on the following SDG's, SDG1, SDG2, SDG5, SDG8, SDG10, SDG12, SDG13, SDG16 and SDG17.
On a scorching hot and dusty afternoon, I headed to the Retold Boutique in Umm Suqueim for a a Natural Beauty Workshop with Amruta Kshemkalyani Co founder of Sustainability Tribe.
It was surprising to learn that my mothers (gram flour) besan and tumeric cleanser and (Fullers Earth) multani mitti face pack was part of the DIY beauty workshop.
To learn how to make the cleanser, face pack and scrub read my blog.
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
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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.
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