About Vietnam:

Fact File:

Population: 86.1 million

Area: 329,566 sq km

Children In Vietnam: About 1 in 3 people in Vietnam

Poverty Level: A 1998 Survey found that approximately 37 per cent of Vietnamese — some 28.4 million people — were living in poverty. While this rate is unacceptably high, is a large improvement from the 75% rate of 1993.

Disabled People: According to the statistics of Ministry of Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Vietnam has over 5.3 million disabled people.

Malnutrition: rates remain unacceptably high (25 percent of children under five are still malnourished). The main contributing factors to poor nutrition status of children include poor caring and feeding practices; only 19% of babies are exclusively breastfed at 4 months.

Orphans and street children: According to UNICEF there are over 1,500,000 orphans in Vietnam and over 23,000 street children! however the true number may be considerably higher as its hard to gain accurate statistics.

Vietnam and Agent Orange:

The deadly mark left by Agent Orange on the natural environment of Vietnam includes the destruction of mangrove forests and the long-term poisoning of soil and crops.

Currently Through the Global Volunteer Network i am able to volunteer and meet some of the beautiful and talented children who have been affected by Agent Orange, they currently are supported in a day centre, where they play and learn arts and crafts while their parents are at work.

Fair Trade:

Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices (which must never fall lower than the market price), Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives

Paying a fair wage in the local context

Offering employees opportunities for advancement

Engaging in environmentally sustainable practices

Being open to public accountability

Building long-term trade relationships

Providing healthy and safe working conditions within the local context

Providing financial and technical assistance to producers whenever possible

Ensuring that there is no abuse of child labor

Source: Fair Trade Federation

Our consumer spending choices affect people's lives around the world. The products we enjoy are often made in conditions that harm workers, communities and the environment. But increasingly consumers are demanding more humane, more environmentally sensitive products.

In today's world economy, where profits rule and small-scale producers are left out of the bargaining process, farmers, craft producers, and other workers are often left without resources or hope for their future. Fair Trade helps exploited producers escape from this cycle and gives them a way to maintain their traditional lifestyles with dignity.

This defines the lowest possible price that a buyer of Fairtrade products must pay the producer. The minimum price is set based on a consultative process with Fairtrade producers and traders and guarantees that producers receive a price which covers the cost of sustainable production. When the market price is higher than the Fairtrade minimum price, the market price is payable fair trade minimum price.