Gifts that Give Back
‘Tis the season for spending too much money on gifts for all your favourite people. But this year, leave the guilt trip behind - make a pledge to beat the crowds and share the joy of the holiday season by purchasing gifts that also give back.
The gift of giving is a powerful thing, whether you are affecting those in your own village, or people in villages across the world. While it might seem like buying just one gift for somebody is trivial, every gift and donation counts. There are a lot of things we can do to help spread the holiday spirit—and strangely, some of the most rewarding ways are the most anonymous ones. We can bring joy to people we may never meet, in countries we may never visit. And it’s as simple as choosing our holiday gifts with a bigger picture in mind.
Fair trade makes it possible to purchase meaningful crafts that have been handmade with love and care. Heritage crafts touched with human spirit, all of which directly support artisans in communities around the world.
When we choose fair trade gifts, we are celebrating the connection between all people all over the world because we are ensuring fairness for the person who made the present we’ve so carefully chosen, and there’s an almost indescribable quality that comes with an object with a story. There’s emotional energy that attaches itself to things that contain memories, wishes, and truths.
Think of your most prized possession. Chances are the value is not monetary, but sentimental. Objects that remind us of places, people, or times that hold meaning for us. That t-shirt that your dad used to wear. A hand print drawing your daughter gave you….There’s no telling what might make its way into our hearts. All we know is that there’s a certain human touch that’s attached to it, and that’s what makes it meaningful.
It’s no secret that a present has a bigger impact - for the recipient, for the maker and for the world - when it’s been made by hand, with love.
