Easter Sunday is only 3 weeks away, and this year why not make a positive difference by purchasing a fair-trade basket?

So much cooler than the generic baskets you could buy at your local store, the baskets below are produced by skilled artisans in impoverished or war-torn countries, and the proceeds from the sales helps them to feed, clothe, and provide for their families.

I’m a true believer that everyone can do something to impact the world. No effort or contribution is too small, especially when it will directly impact the life of someone less fortunate. And let’s face it, no matter how hard our lives get, we’re still very fortunate people in this country.

So why not purchase one of these beautiful, one-of-a-kind baskets and fill it up with goodies for your child on Easter morning? Then reuse it as a great, useful home accessory for the rest of the year and feel good about the small difference you made every time you look at it.

Take this opportunity to set a great example for your children and teach them about kindness, giving to others, and global change - especially on a day like Easter, which has seemingly become just another commercial holiday.

This may be the most important Easter Basket you ever buy.

Bamboo Treat Baskets from Vietnam

This set of bamboo baskets is created by locals and distributed by Mai Handcrafts, a company started by two social workers who were concerned about improving the lives of street children and single mothers in Ho Chi Minh City and ethnic minorities in mountain hamlets. Assistance is offered to their 300 artisans in the areas of quality control, marketing, and export procedures. They are paid generous wages, now earning between (US)$50 and $70 a month in a country where the average monthly income is (US)$20-30.

$7.50/set from AGreaterGift.org

Handwoven Market Baskets from Ghana

This weaving method is a traditional skill handed down from father to son in the Bolgatanga region of northern Ghana. The sale of each of these baskets generates much needed income for the craftsmen and their families. 16.5″ diameter.

$29.00 each at the Global Exchange online store.

Fruit Baskets from Ghana

Made of heavy elephant grass, and the handles are reinforced with small amounts of cured leather from locally raised goats. Goat is the primary source of protein for people in Ghana, and families who can afford them raise a handful on their small family farms. About 8″ high (excluding handle) and 12″ diameter.

Available in Orange or Magenta. $24.00 at OneWorld Projects.com

Date Palm Leaf Baskets from Bangladesh

These are woven by hand in the southwest part of Bangladesh by women who received training from Development Wheel. Their sale provides vital income to these women, who are mothers that work at home, allowing them to save for the future of their families. Talk about empowerment. 3.75 x 7.75 x 7.75 inches. $9.95 at OriginalGood.com

Rwandese Baskets

From OneWorldProjects.com:

“Rwanda, a tiny land-locked country in eastern Africa, tragically is best known for the horrific genocide that occurred
in 1994. Nearly a million people, or about 10% of Rwanda’s population, were killed.
…In the immediate aftermath of the genocide, females represented 70% of Rwanda’s population since
so many men had been killed. After some time had passed, the women were faced with a
decision of either collapsing of inconsolable pain, or moving on together to rebuild their lives.
…Today widows come together to make exquisite traditional baskets and create economic opportunities
for their families. As they sit and weave, they heal in body, mind, and soul, and position themselves and their families for a more stable future.”

The traditional Rwandese basket with its conical top and “zigzag” stripes is the centerpiece of their rebuilding, and a national symbol that even adorns the official Rwandese seal. These baskets are made of sisal or banana leaf, and range from $30-$48 at OneWorldProjects.com

Handwoven Basket from Darfur

Since 2003, the Darfur region of Sudan has been engrossed in a complex conflict, leaving more than half a million people dead and almost two million displaced. It is a highly volatile region. A small glimmer of hope and change has been born with new basket weaving projects, created so those living in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps have an opportunity to improve their lives while preserving their cultural traditions.
These baskets, made from palm grass and natural dyes, are handmade using indigenous designs and techniques. Traditionally they’re used to carry food and water, yet their bright colors and intricate patterns make them natural decorative pieces. 7.5″ x 6″ (sizes may vary)

$58.00 at the Global Exchange online store.

Find even more at Baskets of Africa, offering about a gazillion handmade, gorgeous baskets from many different regions of Africa, and AGreaterGift.org, a good organization whose mission is to “promote the social and economic progress of people in developing regions of the world by marketing their products in a just and direct manner.” On their site you can even do an Artisan and Farmer search for products, so you can support specific areas or causes and know exactly who your purchase is going to help.

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