by Kevin Malloy ‘15
On Tuesday, December 17, vendors from two fair trade organizations, comprising of the InterReligious Task Force on Central America (IRTF) and the Amani Children’s Foundation, visited Ignatius. The goal of the vendors was not only to sell Christmas gifts, but also to spread their mission. “One of the goals of this organization is to promote economic justice through fair trade,” said one of the vendors from the IRTF.
The IRTF has a special connection to the Cleveland area because it was founded in response to the murder of two Cleveland missionaries who were doing service work in El Salvador. The IRTF was created in an attempt to carry out the work of these missionaries: to support oppressed workers in their struggle for fair treatment. To fulfill this mission, the organization has become the leader of the fair trade movement in Northeast Ohio. “Shoppers can now visit nine fair trade stores in the Cleveland area [one is blocks away from Ignatius] in addition to grocery stores that carry fair trade products.”
The Amani Children’s Foundation strives to care for abandoned babies in Africa with money raised from bead sales. The beads are crafted by Kenyan women being paid fair wages and then made into jewelry by volunteer workers. Since 1993, 1400 abandoned infants have been cared for through the organization.
In choosing to participate in the “Just” Christmas Shopping Experience, students and faculty affirmed their support for international fair wages; they chose to pay slightly higher prices so that hardworking producers in 3rd world countries get the pay and working conditions they rightfully earned.
