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The Little Fair Trade Blog

#EmbraceEquity - International Women's Day 2023 (English and Urdu) with Sabeena Z Ahmed

#EmbraceEquity - International Women's Day 2023 (English and Urdu) with Sabeena Z Ahmed

This year's International Women's Day campaign was about embracing equity.

Sadly my right shoulder has been very painful and didn't receive the World Fair Trade Organization tool kit in time and designed my own IWD23 poster. 

I decided to write my poster in English and Urdu.

I hope I can record a video for next year.

اس سال خواتین کے عالمی دن کی مہم مساوات کو اپنانے کے بارے میں تھی۔

افسوس کی بات ہے کہ میرا دایاں کندھا بہت تکلیف دہ رہا ہے اور مجھے ورلڈ فیئر ٹریڈ آرگنائزیشن ٹول کٹ بروقت نہیں ملی اور میں نے اپنا IWD23 پوسٹر ڈیزائن کیا۔

میں نے اپنا پوسٹر انگریزی اور اردو میں لکھنے کا فیصلہ کیا۔

مجھے امید ہے کہ میں اگلے سال کے لیے ایک ویڈیو ریکارڈ کر سکوں گا۔

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World Cancer Day 2023, ورلڈ کینسر ڈے with Sabeena Z Ahmed

World Cancer Day 2023, ورلڈ کینسر ڈے with Sabeena Z Ahmed

I participated in World Cancer Day by posting a video message in Urdu and English on my Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn Profiles.

Please support World Cancer Day!

براہ کرم ورلڈ کینسر ڈے کی حمایت کریں!

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World Cancer Day 2022 - ۲۰ ۲۲ کینسر کا عالمی دن with Sabeena Z Ahmed

World Cancer Day 2022 - ۲۰ ۲۲ کینسر کا عالمی دن with Sabeena Z Ahmed

Hello, Assalaam Alaikum, peace and blessings,

My name is Sabeena and this is my message for World Cancer Day 2022!

My beautiful mother Mrs Meshar Mumtaz Bano was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer March 2012, she was 59 years old.

Mum courageously received 4 years of chemotherapy and radiotherapy before she returned to her maker April 2016, she was 62 years old.

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Eid Clothes, A fair trade and ethical perspective by Sabeena Ahmed

Eid Clothes, A fair trade and ethical perspective by Sabeena Ahmed

 As a self confessed conscious ethical consumer I am shopping online for my sister who is far more fashionable than I am.  I struggle to find any ethical sustainable or fairtrade shalwar kameez (traditional Pakistani costume) brands and end my search defeated and disappointed.

 

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March 2021 - Newsletter Video Blog Summary

March 2021 - Newsletter Video Blog Summary

This month I continued to heal from all my surgeries, celebrated Fairtrade Fortnight 21 completed my 9th Six Items Challenge with Labour Behind the Label, and 

participated in International Women's Day 2021 with The World Fair Trade Organization. 

#AllForFairTrade #WomenOfFairTrade

#ChooseToChallenge #IWD2021

#WomensDay2021 #InternationalWomensDay2021 

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#WomanOfFairTrade - International Women's Day 2021 with Sabeena Ahmed

#WomanOfFairTrade - International Women's Day 2021 with Sabeena Ahmed

Hello, Assalaam Alaikum. peace and blessings everyone!

My name is Sabeena. 

I'm a fairtrade campaigner, educator and social entrepreneur.

Here is is my message for International Women's Day 2021!

#AllForFairTrade #WomenOfFairTrade

#ChooseToChallenge #IWD2021

#WomensDay2021 #InternationalWomensDay2021

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World Cancer Day 2021 - A visit to Javed Manzil with my beloved mother Mrs Meshar Mumtaz Bano

World Cancer Day 2021 - A visit to Javed Manzil with my beloved mother Mrs Meshar Mumtaz Bano

This World Cancer Day 2021 I'd like to share my precious memories of my Amee (mother) Mrs Meshar Mumtaz Bano and the precious time we shared together when we visited Javed Manzil, Badshahi Mosque and Shalimar Gardens, Lahore, 2012.

I hope my words and videos will encourage other South East Asian Diaspora to talk openly about their loss, grief and bereavement.

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Fair Trade Ethical Living with Sabeena Ahmed

Fair Trade Ethical Living with Sabeena Ahmed

This is my summary about how I am consciously trying to live a fair trade ethical life.

This blog illustrates the small steps I have taken to live a life free of clutter, materialism and throw away society.

It has been a natural progression from fair trade campaigner, educator and social entrepreneur to ethical consumer.

 

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Six Items Challenge 2020 - Labour Behind The Label with Sabeena Ahmed

Six Items Challenge 2020 - Labour Behind The Label with Sabeena Ahmed

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.

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Living with PCOS and Endometriosis - A personal insight by Sabeena Ahmed, Fairtrade Campaigner, Educator and Social Entrepreneur

Living with PCOS and Endometriosis - A personal insight by Sabeena Ahmed, Fairtrade Campaigner, Educator and Social Entrepreneur

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.

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World Cancer Day 2020 with Sabeena Ahmed

World Cancer Day 2020 with Sabeena Ahmed

Hello, Assalaam Alaikum, peace and blessings,

My name is Sabeena and this is my message for World Cancer Day 2020!

My beautiful mother Mrs Meshar Mumtaz Bano was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer March 2012, she was 59 years old.

Mum courageously received 4 years of chemotherapy and radiotherapy before she returned to her maker April 2016, she was 62 years old.

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Zero Waste Week 2019, Dubai, UAE - Fair Trade Ethical Living with Sabeena Ahmed

Zero Waste Week 2019, Dubai, UAE - Fair Trade Ethical Living with Sabeena Ahmed

This is my humble effort to reduce my plastic consumption and waste for Zero Waste Week 2019, Dubai and the United Arab Emirates.

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August 2019 - Video Blog Newsletter Summary

August 2019 - Video Blog Newsletter Summary

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.

 

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Sabeena Ahmed submission for Be The Change Awards 2019 with Sian Conway and Ethical Hour

Sabeena Ahmed submission for Be The Change Awards 2019 with Sian Conway and Ethical Hour

I submitted my video for Be the Change Awards 2019.

Many thanks to Sian Conway and Jo Salter for their dedication and tireless work to make the Be The Change Awards successful.

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World Cancer Day - 4th February 2019

World Cancer Day - 4th February 2019

After a brave 4 year struggle with metastatic breast cancer my beautiful mother Mrs Meshar Mumtaz Bano returned to her maker.

My siblings and I miss her terribly.

I have recorded this video for World Cancer Day 2019 and hope it will assist others in the Pakistani and Asian community to talk openly about cancer prevention, palliative care and those left behind.

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October 2017 Newsletter Video Blog Summary

October 2017 Newsletter Video Blog Summary

This October I was interviewed by Voice of Islam Radio Station, London, UK.

My interview with Paksy Plackis-Chang and Impact Mania was released on Twitter and Facebook.

I presented fair trade to ladies at a coffee morning.

I finally had my surgery for my rotater cuff. My right shoulder is painful but healing.

I welcomed my friend Joanna Smieja from Poland. It was Joanna's first visit to Dubai and the UAE.

Suported Anti-Poverty Week 2017, Dubai, UAE. 

Recorded my tribute to my beloved mother for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Received my ''This Is Manchester'' tribute book.

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Kindness.org tribute to my mother Mrs Meshar Mumtaz Bano

Kindness.org tribute to my mother Mrs Meshar Mumtaz Bano

August 1st 2017 marks my mother’s 65th birthday.

My beloved mother was a ‘courageous woman, she was my first school of thought, love, compassion and my paradise.’

Mum was an extraordinarily humble, kind and charismatic lady.

She could strike up a conversation with anyone. An empathetic listener, amazing chef and gardener, she possessed a sharp wit and humour that would instantly lift your spirits.

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My Fair Trade Journey - Sabeena Z Ahmed & The Little Fair Trade Shop Ltd

My Fair Trade Journey - Sabeena Z Ahmed & The Little Fair Trade Shop Ltd

I have been campaigning for fairtrade and ethical producers and ethical consumerism in my beloved home city of Manchester, London, Dubai and Abu Dhabi for the past 14 years.

One of greatest accomplishments is converting my mother to fairtrade products before she returned to her maker.

 

As the only fair trade campaigner, educator and modest retailer in the United Arab Emirates I have struggled to create a niche market for fair trade products.

Nevertheless, I have never lost heart and am more determined than ever to dispel the myth about fair trade being ''charity.''

It was a wonderful experience to meet Professor Mohammad Yunus at Salford University.

A privilege to discuss fair trade with Dr Jamil Sherif and Mrs Naseema Begum at the Muslim Council of Britain November 2016.

Thank you World Pulse for your compassion and love and for your support in raising my voice as a Muslim Female Social Entrepreneur. 

I continue to educate people about fair trade artisans and groups by promoting the principles of a living wage, self-reliance, empowerment, transparency, environmental sustainability and dignity and self respect for all.

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