Our Success

The founder of the non-profit fund " UGANDA FAIR TRADE HOUSE FUND" has been recognized as a Desert Star by Prescott College in Prescott, Arizona.

The Desert Star program recognizes distinguished Prescott College alumni whose contributions have changed a community - large or small - for the better.

The name, "Desert Star," is inspired both by the incredible Northern Arizona night sky that is a treasured memory for every student who ever stargazed in the Southwest, and also for Monoptilon belioides, a tiny sunflower native to Arizona.

The following statements were printed in PC’s alumni newsletter written by:

Linda R. G. Edwards Prescott College Ph.D. Sustainability Education, 2009
M.S. Longwood University M.B.A.
The College of William and Mary Emory & Henry College B.A.

Providing sustainable work for artisans that I know has become my passion. When people are trying to help themselves, it is exciting to adopt the mission of spreading Fair Trade.

The artisans with whom I work do not want a handout; they want customers. Our Fair Trade group – we call it AFAIRWORLD-helps a number of artisans in Uganda, Thailand, and Bhutan who are striving to break the barriers that have held generations of their families in poverty.The hardship barrier is as simple as not having enough work to make a living.

When Recycled Paper Jewelry arrives in roughly packed boxes from the artisans of Uganda, volunteers help to sell the jewelry of the craftspeople to individuals through home parties, in gift shops, female clothing boutiques, college bookstores, natural food stores, and museum shops.

The artisans are paid well above the Uganda minimum wage, a Fair Trade wage, and a safe work environment is emphasized.

It is for this Fair Trade work with poor artisans that Linda was recognized as a Desert Star.