Hello Fair Trade Warriors!
My name is Nikki, and I’ve been a volunteer at One World Market for about two years now. In the fall, I will be starting my undergraduate studies at Elon University! GO PHOENIX!
Going to college means no longer being in Durham during the school year, 
Here are my fair trade essentials for college:
I love this messenger bag from Cambodia!
It’s super cute and I love the green color. I can put my laptop and books in it, and it even comes with smaller pockets to hold my cellphone and pens and pencils. It’s the perfect school bag with a great cause behind it.
Malia Designs, the company that made this bag, aims to fight human trafficking in Cambodia by rescuing women and teaching them a trade, such as making bags like these. Providing these women with economic opportunities gives them financial stability, which makes them less vulnerable to prostitution and human trafficking.
This ID holder from The Village Experience is perfect for holding my Phoenix Card.
And it matches my satchel, too!
Both of these items are a part of the Opportunity Collection. They were made by tsunami victims in Thailand. These artisans make these products to aid economic development and support their community and local orphanage.
Textbooks are heavy and expensive, so a lot of people are turning to electronic versions of textbooks that can be found online for free. This ABAN tablet sleeve is great for holding any e-reader or tablet.
These sleeves were made in Ghana, and the proceeds benefit young mothers enrolled in ABAN’s school. These products have a huge social impact, focusing on the empowerment of women. This e-reader sleeve is also environmentally friendly! The pouch at the bottom is made from a recycled water sachet. 40 tons of water bags are thrown into the streets every day. Just imagine how much of a positive impact these products have on the environment!
When I was thinking about how I wanted to decorate my dorm, I immediately thought of the beautiful star lanterns hanging all over the store.
They’re a fun way to light up my room and add a splash of color to it. And chances are, my roommate will love it too. It’s a win-win.
These lanterns were made in India by partners of Om Gallery.
And how could I possibly attend Hogwarts Elon as a Gryffindor Phoenix without showing my team spirit during our Quidditch matches basketball games? I’m bringing my Sseko Sandals with me (of course), and I had to pick out straps in my school colors so I can rock them on campus!
With so many color options, there are plenty of ribbon combinations for repping any college. There are also some awesome ties that involve two different colors on the Sseko website. My personal favorite is the “Two-Faced” tie found here.
Sseko employs young women in Uganda to make these shoes, allowing them to become financially stable and giving them the opportunity to attend college. In an impoverished and male-dominated society, organizations like these play a huge role in empowering women. It’s comforting knowing that as I make my way through campus wearing my Ssekos, another girl in Uganda is able to do the exact same thing because I, and a couple of other people, decided to invest in her education with one purchase. In my opinion, there are few things more awesome than that.
So, there you have it! All the fun, fair trade items every college student needs. Hopefully, I’ve inspired some of you to take one or two of these (or all of them) with you on move-in day. Either way, have a wonderful summer and good luck next fall! Let’s go, Class of 2019!
