How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
Photo provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS – Mango Tree Imports, a global fair-trade gift shop, invites the public to a reception in honor of area Peace Corps volunteers on Tuesday, Sept. 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the store. It is located in the Saratoga Marketplace at 454 Broadway. The event is part of Peace Week activities in Saratoga Springs.
“My husband’s experience in Botswana and our subsequent travels to Paraguay, where we both taught for several years, helped shape our understanding of the connection between peace and fair trade,” notes Kim Andersen, who owns the store with her husband Chris. He was a Peace Corps volunteer in Botswana from 1988 to 1991.
“We like to host the Peace Corps alumni in the store where they can share their experiences against the backdrop of fair trade products from many of the countries in which they served,” Andersen added.
While the event is not sponsored by the Peace Corps organization, the Andersens invite the public—particularly people who may be interested in joining the Peace Corps—to attend the reception and learn more. They anticipate hosting volunteers who served in regions such as Eastern Europe, Africa and Latin America. The members of the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Northeast New York educate and inform people in the United States about the countries in which they volunteered.
According to the Andersens, fair trade is an important contributor to world peace, as it changes the economic outlook of the working poor and can sometimes stabilize social structures. Fair trade supports artisans and farmers from developing regions of the world who are socially and economically marginalized, helping them find markets and customers for their goods. Fair trade also requires prompt and fair payment; honors the rights of children; ensures safe working conditions; respects different cultures; and cultivates environmental stewardship.
Mango Tree Imports has been a member of the Fair Trade Federation since 2007. It offers unique gifts from over 60 developing countries, creating an appealing international marketplace. Some of the items the store carries include carved soapstone from Kenya; intricate metal wall art from Haiti; colorful hand-woven baskets from Guatemala, Uganda, Ghana, and Bangladesh; a large selection of jewelry; and glowing floor lamps from the Philippines.
For more information, call 518-584-2646 or visit www.mangotreeimports.com.
