Fair Trade in Africa Celebrated

Daraja Imports Celebrated Fair Trade Partners in Africa

Sharing his recent speech Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Dr. Christian Turner and Department for International Development UK.. about Fair Trade in Africa - it's a key moment.... 

"All of us - governments, charities, business and consumers – must play their part and focus on inclusive growth and jobs. Breaking down the barriers to free and fair trade. It is fantastic that DFID is supporting projects like these in Kenya…which are having such a transformative impact on people’s lives. This is a key moment for shaping the future of development… we must grasp it."

Maasai Village in Remote Kenyan Bush

DarajaImports™ and our business partners share a vision of economic and environmental sustainability in remote villages of East and South Africa by representing and offering their elite, handcrafted art, fashion and apparel pieces.  Through this developing partnership we all make a difference.

These handmade East African Zulugrass necklaces are a dazzling display of color and an eco-fashion statement! Made in the remote Kenyan bush by Maasai women.

Glass Dragonflies are hand created with glass seed beads and a beautiful hand-blown bead from Kitengela Glass in Kenya to form the body.

Coffees Fairly Traded

Smallholder  Farmers in Lower Income Countries 

are Vulnerable to Wide Commodity Price fluctuations and declining relative prices. In response, various market interventions have been designed to reduce smallholder vulnerability.

Fair trade is a market-based approach to smallholder development that attempts to use consumer demand as incentive to restructure global trading relationships. By contrast, free trade approaches to development emphasize liberalizing markets and increasing competition and smallholder efficiency as the route to improved smallholder well-being.

In Tanzania, 275000 hectares are under coffee cultivation, supporting some 500000 households. Small-holders, with an average area of 0.5 hectare, are responsible for over 90% of the country’s production.

Kuzilwa (1997, p. 46) defines smallholders as ‘farmers (households) owning relatively small farms and [producing] a variety of crops both for subsistence and cash. They depend on family labour to produce their output and use relatively labour intensive techniques of production’.

Tanzanian  farmers  who  grow  coffee  face  a  number  of  vulnerabilities  in  the  world  and  domestic markets. The global coffee market is characterized by volatile prices that are in long-term relative decline.

Tanzania’s coffee  industry  is  dominated  by  a  two-tier  cooperative  system.  Each  village  contains  a primary society run by officers elected from the community. Primary societies are organized regionally under umbrella cooperative unions.

Daraja Imports  proudly supports fair trade coffees.  

Fair Trade in Malawi

Wristlets

Handcrafted In Malawi 

Fairly Traded with Daraja Imports

Malawi is 1 of 39 countries in the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC), who are eligible to receive assistance from the IMF. Their economy greatly depends on economic assistance from organizations like the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and other individual donor nations.

We , and our associates would never be as bold as to say that we are making vast changes in Malawi's economy, but our mission is to introduce artisans to the international markets and provide opportunities for social and economic change.  

Swing Bags

Through the sale of fair trade gifts, artisans (particularly women) are becoming economically empowered.  

Our products from Malawi are top quality that can be compared to any.  Shop Daraja Imports for handcrafted items made in Malawi.

Kitchen Aprons

Kids Plush Toys

About Daraja Imports

Daraja Imports™

Daraja meaning "Bridge" in Swahili, is a registered Fair Trade company in the USA and we are building an economic bridge between rural East and Southern Africans and the USA. 

It's not a new idea.  It's a great idea - trading fairly.  As individuals we most likely do not practice that enough.  Enjoying and supporting companies who practice fair trade has become easier as more companies see the all around value.  Consumers can find almost anything they are shopping for with a fair trade company.  

Our mission is to build that bridge to sustainability for the impoverished yet talented and skilled artisans. We have achieved this through partnering with local artisan groups and organizations throughout Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Ghana, Malawi, Zambia, Swaziland and South Africa. We are empowering these rural men and women and making a difference in the lives of so many through unique handcrafts that represent a fusion of traditional art form and creative contemporary high quality designs. 

We offer handcrafted items that reflect the highest level of skill and craftsmanship. We partner with many talented African artisans who are conscientious and conduct business in sustainable product development. All products are made by different groups of enterprising, rural men and women, many of whom are widows, a group of physically disabled Tanzanian people, young adults orphaned by genocide and HIV/AIDS, and women who have been affected by HIV/AIDS either personally or within their family. All products are Fair Trade and handcrafted from local, sustainable and/or recycled material. 

Using Fair Trade relationships, Daraja Imports is much more than just a trading partner. We strive to build a personal, mutual, and extensive relationship with the product creators in keeping all of the values of Daraja Imports at the forefront. When you purchase from Daraja Imports you know you have made a difference. As a Fair Trade business we make it easy for every consumer to make a difference in the lives and communities in East and Southern Africa. Many people have hopes and dreams, and together through Fair Trade business relationships we are helping the impoverished realize theirs. Every piece has a story and every purchase makes a difference.

Daraja Imports at NSRA with Avante Jewelry Ltd

Blog:AvanteMall

Avante Jewelry Ltd Recognizes Daraja Imports at NSRA

Avante Jewelry Ltd recognizes Daraja Imports at NSRA. Daraja Imports features fair trade handcrafts created by African artisans in East and South Africa.

DARAJA IMPORTS
/DAH-RAH-JAH/

“Every Piece Has A Story” 

While selling our handcrafted Avante Jewelry in the Women’s World at the NSRA, National Street Rod Association, car show in Louisville, Kentucky from August 6 to August 9, 2015, we had the opportunity to meet Marlene LaRue, a retail sales representative for Daraja Imports. Marlene’s booth was located across from us so we had the opportunity to get to learn about each other’s offerings.

Marlene set up a very attractive display of handcrafted pieces that were created individually by local artisans in East and South Africa. Daraja Imports helps to bridge the gap between Africans and the USA by partnering with local groups and organizations throughout Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Ghana, Malawi, Zambia, Swaziland and South Africa.

Avante Jewelry Ltd Recognizes Daraja Imports at NSRA

Daraja Imports features many unique handcrafts that are made from local, sustainable and/or recycled materials:

• Jewelry
• Baskets
• Bowls
• Toys
• Apparel, Sandals and more…
  The handcrafts are made by different groups of enterprising men and rural women, many of whom are widows, a group of physically disabled Tanzanian people and young adults orphaned by genocide. These talented men and women create each unique piece as they learn, train and create a new edge to their beautiful and cultural art forms. They work together and form small businesses and co-ops as they handcraft their pieces.

Daraja Imports is located in the USA and is all about engaging in Fair Trade business partnerships with artisans to provide them a fair market in the USA. Through this developing partnership they make a difference as they help many impoverished people reach their hopes and dreams.

Visit www.DarajaImports.com for more information and to view their handcrafted offerings.  Daraja Imports – “Bridging the economic gap and empowering the poor.”  Contact Marlene at 980-213-1216 and SAVE 10% on the web site by entering the Code: MARLENENC

It was great to meet you, Marlene. We wish you the best in life and success in all you do for Daraja Imports.

Vickie & Mark – Avante Jewelry Ltd

Avante Jewelry Ltd recognizes Daraja Imports at NSRA

 

Making new friends at exhibits and shows simply can't be helped. It's just natural to reach forward and pick up one of these beautiful baskets or  jewelry.  You can almost feel the cultural richness and textures of life woven thru each piece, completely handcrafted and fairly traded. It's experiences such as this that make our company so unique.  We love sharing the stories of the artisans who create our products.  Meeting other businesses along the way creates great relationships. .. Daraja Imports