news & events

Our 'giving back' commitment
10 October 2009

Fair Trade Exchange is committed to giving back to the community. In August, we donated $1000 of our profit to the Bebandem Junior High School for purchasing much needed educational resources including dictionaries, world maps, textbooks, calculators, English grammer guides and musical instruments.

Freebies for school kids
10 November 2008

An Australian volunteer recalls her experience teaching at a rural school in Bali: "Feeling a little annoyed, I asked one of the kids in my English class why he isn't taking any notes. Looking quite embarassed, he said "Sorry Miss, but my family couldn't afford to buy a pen for me."

Bali's first and only free-for-all public school established by the local community, Bebandem Junior High No. 4, has recently received a carload of recycled paper stationery as part of Fair Trade Exchange's commitment to giving back to the community.

The school was founded by local villagers who wanted to give impoverished children an education and a chance in life. Unfortunately, education is not free in Indonesia and those living in poverty are often forced to leave school to earn money from as early as 6 years old- working as farmers, labourers, factory hands or scavangers. With the help of AusAID, Bebandem Junior High School has grown from 44 students to 214 in just three years, giving 98% of neighbourhood tweens a brighter future.

Thank you, Manly!
24 August 2008

Manly was blessed with a beautiful sunny day for its Fair Trade market and celebration as the State's first Fair Trade accredited council. Fair Trade Exchange had the pleasure of being a part of this special event and was delighted to see a growing concern for exploitation in developing countries.

We would like to thank the staff of Manly council for organising the event and the commitment they give to a fairer trade.

Viva Fair Trade Fiesta 08!
8 May 2008

Fair Trade Exchange officially opened for business at this year's Fair Trade Fiesta in Sydney, which was held on the 6th of May. We received a tremendous amount of support from fellow fair traders, visitors, family and friends. We brought over our range of journals, photo albums, novelty keychains and silver jewellery- all made by home-based women artisans from Bali. To learn more about the artisans, please go to craftspeople

We would like to give a BIG thank you to FTAANZ for organising this very meaningful event and to other fair traders who made the day so enjoyable.

For more information about the Fair Trade Fiesta, please go to www.fta.org.au