Partners for Just Trade
Partners for Just Trade (PJT) is a non-profit, faith-based organization that builds partnerships between producers living in extreme poverty and consumers in North America. They address root causes of poverty through Fair Trade sales, education, solidarity, and a commitment to trade justice.
PJT began informally as an initiative of the Presbyterian Hunger Program when several Presbyterians visiting Peru through the Hunger Program’s Joining Hands Network began bringing handcrafts made by their new colleagues back to the United States for sale in churches and among friends. Very quickly, thanks to the work of committed volunteers, that tiny partnership blossomed into a growing non-profit organization with a national outreach that sells a wide variety of fair trade products and creates educational materials about the importance of fair trade.
More than 15 artisan groups, with over 200 producers, now work with PJT, through their Peruvian Trade Partner called Bridge of Hope. In 2008, PJT began working with RELUFA, a Cameroonian organization who works with farmers whose land has been usurped by a multinational corporation.
One of the ways that Partners for Just Trade works, is that recognizing that Munay Rumi’s commitment and potential, they commissioned jewelry designer Peggy Eng to work with the group in Peru; she spent six weeks working with them, building a cohesive set of designs into a collection and teaching the importance of developing a signature style.
The fair wages the artisans and farmers receive enables them to afford food, shelter and medicine for their families, educate their children and reclaim personal dignity so they may assert their economic, political and social rights.
Their Judaica products include a silver handcrafted Star of David pendant, and two silver and gemstone chamsah pendants.
Partners for Just Trade is a member of the Fair Trade Federation.
Partners for Just Trade wholesales their products to over 20 retail stores, as well as through their on-line store.
Partners for Just Trade
2236 Tower Grove Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110
PJT@partnersforjusttrade.org
www.partnersforjusttrade.org
