“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.”
Women's Words Workshop - Gorton Library (November 2017)
Women's Words Workshop -
Gorton Library (November 2017)
It was lovely to finally meet the team from the Women's Words Project, Manchester in association with The Pankhurst Centre.
Women! Use Your Notes
Women's Words Manchester Workshop - Gorton Library, Manchester November 2017
Lucy's golden power boots
Talking about our experiences
Words underlined for my piece
My words
Lucky Amiable Me!
The successful Gothic teacher with excessively sprouting eyebrows prescribed a rattling dance at a Scottish seaside town.
The chemistry at the secret remote guesthouse that shone in the sun bright weather transformed life threatening allergies as a holistic alternative retreat, and where the sensibility and literary lured me.
The ladies happy participating in a group photo
The ladies supporting the WFTO's 10 Principles of Fair Trade
With Lucy and Dr Perry
I submitted a piece about my beloved mother Mrs Meshar Mumtaz Bano who bravely struggled with metastatic breast cancer. Mum passed away April 2016 and my siblings and I were very blessed to be with her during her final hours.
MESHAR MUMTAZ BANO
The 1st August 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.
Yes! She had a beautiful smile. Never once did she complain about her cancer and all those horrible treatments. She was so calm and graceful even during the most difficult times.
Nothing was ever too much for her and she would go out of her way to help loved ones and strangers.
Strangers would always compliment and thank her for her warm friendly nature.
‘Be kind to everyone you meet because they have been sent from above, she used to say.’
A single parent Mum devoted her entire life to her 3 children and her magnanimous heart and selfless nature compelled to support others in dire straits.
She taught us to be kind and compassionate because as a young woman she had suffered immense hardship, racism and inequality while contributing to British society.
A survivor of domestic abuse she became a vocal advocate for women’s education empowerment and fairtrade.
She was a staunch supporter of my fairtrade campaigning and social entrepreneurship. ‘People will always remember how you made them feel so be kind and generous, she would remind us.’
‘SHE WAS MY BEAUTIFUL ANGEL WITH A PURE HEART OF GOLD.’
Thank you for your strength, optimism and unconditional love.
I miss you so much!
I can only pray you are at peace and enjoying a posh afternoon tea with your sisters and Nana in your very own Anne Hathaway’s Garden.
May (God) Allah subhana wa'tala bless you with a beautiful seat in Jannat ul Ferdose. Aameen.
Love and prayers always
Yours eternally Sabeena XXX”
I was asked to submit a piece about myself too which I did.
For those interested I've attached it below.
I had a lovely afternoon meeting strong willed, ambitious, beautiful women.
Many thanks to the Women's Word team for organising these workshops.
My Story -
"Never in a million years did I ever think I would write my story.
I mean who on earth would want to read my fair trade journey.
Here I am in Dubai, a proud Mancunian, second generation Pak/Indo Muslim female, Jackie of all trades trying make my deceased parents proud and above all working tirelessly to be a good human being.
My fair trade producers, friends and family call me Sabeen or Sabeena not to be confused with Sabrina the teenage witch or Ribena!
I was born at the Saint Marys Hospital Manchester on a beautiful Sunday morning. I'm a nomad and a free spirit at heart. I honestly believe we shouldn’t be stereotyped by our appearances, nationality or religion but celebrate our differences.
I've been living in Dubai a little over nine years but Manchester is where the heart is.
I established the Little Fair Trade Shop in 2008 while I was recovering from surgery.
I support highly skilled artisans, suppliers and manufacturers of fairtrade and naturally recycled products and resources.
My mission is to promote self-reliance, empower artisans and their local communities and give them the dignity they so rightly deserve.
The Little Fair Trade Shop is my humble aim to educate, promote and showcase the work of talented fairtrade and ethical artisans and producers around the world.
It’s my personal mission to also dispel the myth that fairtrade is ''charity'', and promote the principles of a living wage, self-reliance, empowerment, transparency, environmental sustainability, dignity and self-respect for all.
My fairtrade journey began September 2008 whilst studying an online distance Islamic Banking and Insurance course.
Much to my surprise I had an epiphany!
A paragraph illustrating how Islam promotes the equal distribution of wealth evoked strong emotions.
Stories of social injustice and disparity of earnings amongst the poorest people around the world fueled a desire to take action.
The need to talk immediate action was cemented when I read a life changing paper “ An Islamic Perspective on Fair Trade” by Dr Laura Thaut Vinson and Dr Ajaz Ahmed Khan. I have written to them both recently and hope fingers crossed they reply.
Fairtrade very simply means social and trade justice for all!
Fairtrade is a simple way each one of us can make a difference through our everyday choices. It’s about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. Fairtrade aims to enable the poorest farmers and workers to improve their position and have more control over their lives.
“Every time you spend money, you're casting a vote for the kind of world you want.”
We all live busy lives but take a minute to ask yourself those uncomfortable questions the next time you are out and about conducting some much-needed retail therapy.
‘’Who made my clothes?’’, ‘’who made my shoes?’’, ‘’who grew the cocao to make this chocolate bar?’’ If you don’t know the answers, find out.
I’m also patiently working to establish a fairtrade educational and interfaith network.
There are hundreds of fairtrade nurseries, schools, colleges, universities and faith groups in the UK, US, Canada, Australia and the rest of the world. With the support of educators and parents, it would be instrumental to give young learners in the United Arab Emirates the opportunity to learn about fair trade producers and the impact fair trade has had on their lives and communities.
Through interactive puppet shows, videos, interviews, live Q&A’s, webinars, workshops, dramas, books, visits, fashion shows and songs I hope to engage with learners and consumers around the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
I am also humbled and honoured to visit fairtrade artisans and producer groups. I enjoy talking with valued supporters, consumers, children and other social entrepreneurs who are passionate about making a difference in the world.
After a four-year struggle with metastatic breast cancer, my beloved mother Mrs Meshar Mumtaz Bano passed away April 2016. Mum gave her blessings for me to continue with my fairtrade/ethical campaigning in the UAE and the UK.
It would be a dream come true to design a fairtrade label, accessories and jewellery collections in her memory.
I would like to raise awareness within the Pakistani and Asian communities in the UK and UAE to talk openly about breast cancer/cancer and the effects and emotional scars it leaves on those left behind.
I completed an online course Talking About Cancer with Cancer Research UK and hope my video blogs in English and Urdu will assist my grief and healing.
There have been many times in my life where people have criticised, laughed and belittled me.
I HAVE IGNORED THEM! I have surround myself with positive like minded individuals and always believed in myself. I have learnt that you can never please everyone so I have spent my time wisely and I do what makes me happy.
I remain a romantic optimist committed and dedicated to support social and trade justice.
I am eternally grateful to the all of the individuals who have supported and encouraged me on this journey over the past nine years. But most of all, I would like to thank all the selfless fairtrade pioneers, artisans and producers who have devoted their entire lives to benefit the lives of others. You are my inspiration, heroines, heroes and role models.
I hope my writing will encourage others to think how we can leave people better than we found them.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Women's Words Team Manchester for providing me with this opportunity to share my fair trade story.
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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