Fair Trade and Green Holiday Gift Ideas

Global Goods Partners is a non-profit group dedicated to helping women-led small businesses in marginalized areas around the world. The Global Goods Partners website lets you directly support these women and their families by offering handmade items made of sustainable and eco-concious materials. These items, everything from stuffed animals to bracelets, are made by women in poverty-stricken communities in Africa, Asia, and South America. These change purses (above) are made of sustainable palm fiber by a group of women in a poor and underdeveloped region of Columbia. At $22, they would make a unique, eco-friendly gift that supports social justice. And they're cute!

These change purses are also made of recycled material: Thai-Burmese dresses! At $8.50 each, profits from these cute little purses go toward helping refugee women become business, community, and government leaders.

Artisans from Cambodia make these $18 recycled paper coasters. Profits from the sale of these coasters go toward Friends International, a group that helps support health care, counseling, education, and vocational training to Cambodian street children.

These bracelets are made from wood that is native to southern India. The colors come from natural vegetable dyes. They're only $4 each!

These felt Christmas stockings are made by women in Nepal. They are hand woven and dyed. Profits go towards supporting women-led households in poor regions near Katmandu.

These $6 ornaments made by South African children out of cans and wire found on the ground.

The Global Goods Partners website is very easy to navigate, the prices are reasonable, and the rewards are abundant. Each item description also comes with a description of the people who made the item, and where your money goes once you've purchased it. I love this program!