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New Islamic Relief USA Partnership |
By Susan Sklar, Interfaith Program Manager
Equal Exchange is pleased to welcome Islamic Relief USA as our newest Interfaith Program partner. We co-launched the new Islamic Relief USA Fair Trade Project partnership at the annual Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) conference held July 2-5 in Washington D.C. Islamic Relief USA is Equal Exchange's eleventh Interfaith Program partnership.
Islamic Relief, founded in 1984, is an international relief and development organization that aims to alleviate suffering caused by poverty. As well as responding to disasters and emergencies, Islamic Relief promotes sustainable economic and social development by working with local communities—regardless of race, religion, or gender. The organization works in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Islamic Relief USA has actively supported the mission and goals of Fair Trade for 25 years given that Islamic and Fair Trade principles dovetail so exactly. In their paper entitled "An Islamic Perspective on Fair Trade," (2008), authors Ajaz Ahmed Khan and Laura Thaut explain that, "The concepts of fairness, equity, mutual respect and consideration for others are inherent in the moral teachings of Islam and must, therefore, be integral in business dealings between buyers and sellers and between employers and workers."
Over the next year, Islamic Relief USA will reach out to mosques, schools, and Islamic organizations across the country to encourage them to embrace the mission of Fair Trade and incorporate the use of Equal Exchange's fairly traded products into their programs. When Islamic Fair Trade participants drink their customary cup of tea, they will be supporting Indian, Sri Lankan, and African tea grown by some of the most innovative small farmer projects in the world. Equal Exchange's entire Organic Pyramid Tea line is small farmer based. This is different from most tea, which is routinely grown on plantations — including tea from other groups labeled as "Fair Trade." Equal Exchange and Islamic Relief USA will work together to build an alternative system that supports small-scale tea producers.
"Developing a partnership with Equal Exchange makes sense for us since their values are aligned with the Islamic perspective on Fair Trade," explained Saadia Abdu, International Programs Coordinator for Islamic Relief USA. "Poverty alleviation is part of our mission and one of the ways we do this is through our many sustainable livelihood projects. In providing farmers with fair and equitable access to the market Equal Exchange breaks the cycle of poverty."
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