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Bangladesh Maternity & Women's Project

We are proud to introduce a stunning range of hand crafted gifts and nursery products from a wonderful scheme in Bangladesh. An associate member of Ecota Fair Trade Forum, this is a Fair Trade Organisation whose aim is to produce fairly traded items which are marketable in the West and provide a better life for those who make them in Bangladesh.

In particular they work with vulnerable groups and have successfully trained women who are deaf and dumb or have lost the use of one limb. They work with many women with young children and babies who desperately need work but do not want work which separates them from their families. These women are given part-time work that can be done in their homes.

Any profits achieved are re-invested in the communities. Their long term aim is to provide community midwifery in the communities in which they work. There is no precedent for this in Bangladesh and the infant and mother mortality rate in childbirth is tragically high.

They are partners with Grameen Shamogree in a new Monga project aimed at eradicating Monga in the North West of Bangladesh. Monga means 'near starvation' and refers to a period of 2-4 months from when the rainy season begins until the Aman harvest when there is little or no work and people suffer hunger through the lack of ability to be able to buy food.

The craftsmanship in these products is quite exceptional. Modern machine made goods are monotonously identical, so it is a delight to find such beautifully created items which are beautifully made, yet have that unique sense of individuality which can only come from the experience and care which goes into making them.

Currently we have in stock these gorgeous fair trade toy boxes which make brilliant storage for the nursery as well. These toy boxes are foldable flat, so really convenient. They make great laundry baskets, too!