Here is a brief update from our Talon Fair Trade Welfare Society in Sialkot, Pakistan. This is the sister organization to the workers’ union at Talon, the manufacturer of Fair Trade Sports balls.

I’d like to give you a direct glimpse - in their own words - of what the crew at Talon are achieving with the extra funds we pay through Fair Trade premiums (reminder: we do not pass these premiums on to you - we have no multi-million dollar TV ads to support).

Here’s an insightful excerpt from the reporting:

Micro credit is for income generation.Now people living happily life. Health Facilities.

Worker,stitcher and their families getting 100% free of cost medical facility.This facility is not available in over all sialkot scenario.Not even in Govt sector,multinational companies.In these companies and in government sector have specific limit for medical.But for our workers have no limit.We provide them 100% free.

If we consider employee status over all in Pakistan factory workers and football stitcher are third level workers,but our workers availing 1st class facilities in medical programme.

One thing very special here is no classicfication every workers and managerial level worker availing the facilities from the same listed hospital.Mean we have equel ploicy for all workers and managers.

Here is a PDF I made of the micro-credit loans. The addition of the highlighting is mine to call your attention to the type of projects being funded: reselling milk, welding shops, buffalo, carts, sweet shops, tractors, and a bakery.

Please consider telling two friends right now about our fairly traded soccer balls, and continue to support this wonderful work around the world!