Stories from the Field: Cambodia, Argentina, and Colombia

Fair Trade USA™’s global impact is backed by the real stories from our global community. Each success or area of growth comes with individual experiences, ideas, passions, and improved lives. Instead of focusing in on just the numbers, we like to share the real stories behind the label, and emphasize how your support of Fair Trade Certified™ products uplifts people and the planet.

When Fair Trade Certified products are sold, companies pay an additional sum of money that goes toward Community Development Funds. These funds allow farmers and workers to invest in development projects that address their community’s greatest needs, such as access to clean water, education, housing, and healthcare. To share the impact of the funds and amplify the voices of our community, we collected three stories from the field in Cambodia, Argentina, and Colombia.

Svay Rolum, Cambodia​

At just 22, Heng Sreyneat has already experienced the harsh realities of living on an inconsistent income and often finding herself unable to help with family household expenses.

Looking back at her previous job as a seller at a small grocery store in their province, Heng is grateful for her current job as a Quality Control staff at Meng Yee, a Fair Trade Certified Factory in Cambodia, and a partner of J Crew. “There was never enough income to cover even basic expenses,” she recalls. So, when her sister, who works in the trimming section at Meng Yee, suggested she apply to the factory, Heng decided to give it a try.

With a regular paycheck, Heng appreciates the stability at her current job. “The difference here is that I know exactly what I’ll earn every month,” she says. In addition to her salary and government-mandated benefits, she also has the opportunity to earn bonuses when production targets are met.

Another aspect of Meng Yee’s operations that Heng values is its Fair Trade Program. The factory’s involvement in the program means that workers receive funds from the brands sourcing from them that is invested into the Fair Trade Community Development Fund. That fund is managed by workers and invested on the projects that they vote to implement. One of these is the Red Pocket Project, where each worker receives a 20 USD cash gift on their birthday. “It’s my favorite project,” she shares. “It’s a simple way to ensure that I have money to celebrate my birthday each year.”

The Community Development Fund also supports workers during festival seasons. A transportation subsidy is offered which makes it easier for employees like Heng to return to their families during important holidays. “It helps save money, which I can use for buying gifts for my parents,” she says, acknowledging how this small project adds value to her family time.

Meng Yee is also making progress toward paying off a family loan. The loan was initially taken to start a small grocery business, which unfortunately had to close. Sharing this made her a bit emotional. Her voice conveyed her deep desire and strong sense of responsibility to help her parents settle the debt. She’s grateful that her current employment has made it possible for her to help her parents pay back the loan and gradually ease the burden.

Heng emphasized her passion for the Fair Trade Program, and the possibility that more community development funding could help workers manage essential living expenses such as rent, electricity, water, and food. She also shared that increased funding could support her community’s future by providing more education and childcare.

Her hope is that the demand for Fair Trade Certified products remains steady, ensuring continued support for her and her fellow workers at Meng Yee. “When people continue to buy our products, it helps sustain the benefits we receive through the community development projects,” she says.

​Tucumán, Argentina 

Community Development Funds have made it possible for farm workers at Zamora Citrus to make significant home improvements and launch a food basket delivery program. Hear from workers on how they decided how to use the funds and how their choices have bettered their community:

Capulí Grande, Colombia

Anny Mera is the Colombian Field Advisor at Fair Trade USA. She works closely on the ground with local communities to provide support for Fair Trade Community Development Funds and facilitate open communication between workers and our organization.

Last month, Anny shared that a Community Development Fund investment from the Brisas de Galeras Organization was put toward a water treatment plant for a community in Capulí Grande. Thanks to the project, 70 families now have access to safe drinking water.

Before this breakthrough, the inhabitants of Capulí Grande were exposed to diseases like Acute Diarrheal Disease (ADD), a leading cause of infant mortality in rural areas, and Intestinal Parasitism, caused by pathogenic organisms present in unsanitary water. Now, these diseases are no longer a constant threat. The initiative improves the quality of life for 280 people and represents a significant step towards a healthier and more sustainable future for the community.

Access to safe drinking water means improved community health and decreased health care costs. When families are safe and healthy, they are able to focus on building their futures and strengthening their communities—all key values at Fair Trade USA. In her own words, Anny shared: “Water is life, and in Capulí Grande, hope flows alongside it!”