Events
‘Parivartan’ at Thakur Institute of Management Studies and Research, Thakur Village, Kandivali.
Entrepreneurship Development Cell (EDC) of Thakur Institute of Management Studies & Research (TIMSR) celebrated Entrepreneurship week from 9th Feb-15th Feb 2013. The theme for E Week was ‘Innovations for India’ and one of the innovations that will take India to a higher level of growth is to provide opportunities to the bottom of pyramid. Keeping this in mind TIMSR and IRFT - Parivartan (A path of transformation for producer groups) organized an Exhibition on 12th February, where eight NGOs participated. These NGOs have skills and potential but require a platform to showcase and undoubtedly the only organization that can truly support in this endeavor is IRFT. Each organization was provided with a separate stall in the college premises giving market exposure. The pro-active response from college students and professors made the event successful.
IRFT at NGO Asia Expo
Continuing the tradition of providing a marketing and sales platform to its partner NGOs, IRFT participated and promoted two of its associate NGOs:
1) Devrai Art Village with its ensemble of artistic brass and iron decorative and utility materials and
2) Earth Care Designs with its novel and eco-friendly products made from coconut shell
at the NGO Asia Expo held on 20-21 November, 2012 at the World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai. The organizations were able to make good sales of their unique products and were able to amaze the buyers.
1) Devrai Art Village with its ensemble of artistic brass and iron decorative and utility materials and
2) Earth Care Designs with its novel and eco-friendly products made from coconut shell
at the NGO Asia Expo held on 20-21 November, 2012 at the World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai. The organizations were able to make good sales of their unique products and were able to amaze the buyers.
IRFT hosts the UNGC conference!!!
IRFT hosted the 7th consultation of the Western Region Network of United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) conference on 23rd October 2012. UNGC is the largest voluntary corporate responsibility initiative in the world. The Global Compact is a practical framework for the development, implementation, and disclosure of sustainability policies and practices, offering participants a wide spectrum of work streams, management tools and resources -all designed to help advance sustainable business models and markets. IRFT, being the host had proposed an apt theme for the meeting i.e. ‘Fairness in Trade’. The key speakers at the event were from organizations working to promote ‘Fairness in Trade’ through their own initiatives.
Dr. Joy Deshmukh Ranadive, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) greeted the members and had a key discussion on forthcoming UNGC convention. Gaynor Pais, CEO IRFT oriented the participants about role of IRFT towards fair and sustainable livelihoods. The success story of the first Indian Fair Trade label – Shop For Change was shared by Seth Petchers, CEO SFC. Arindama Banerjee Wankhede spoke on fair and ethical practices through supply chain partnerships. Johnny Joseph, Director Creative Handicrafts organized a walkthrough of a 25 year old Fair Trade producer organization. The conference turned out to be a point of confluence between members of UNGC, both not-for-profit and for-profit business ventures.
Dr. Joy Deshmukh Ranadive, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) greeted the members and had a key discussion on forthcoming UNGC convention. Gaynor Pais, CEO IRFT oriented the participants about role of IRFT towards fair and sustainable livelihoods. The success story of the first Indian Fair Trade label – Shop For Change was shared by Seth Petchers, CEO SFC. Arindama Banerjee Wankhede spoke on fair and ethical practices through supply chain partnerships. Johnny Joseph, Director Creative Handicrafts organized a walkthrough of a 25 year old Fair Trade producer organization. The conference turned out to be a point of confluence between members of UNGC, both not-for-profit and for-profit business ventures.
IRFT supports ‘Trishul Centre for Learning’
Diya Making Workshop
Life Skills Workshop with the title ‘Who Am I’ ….
Art Workshop
Exhibitions at MASTEK Ltd.!!!
IRFT is proud to have partnered with MASTEK Ltd. to promote “Creative Handicrafts” at two exhibitions in the month of July. Creative Handicrafts is an NGO which has been certified by World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO). The stalls were put up at two different campuses; Millenium Business Park, Ghansoli and at Seepz, Andheri. The exhibitions were organised with the theme of the upcoming festival “Rakshabandhan” and offered the keen employees of MASTEK with a variety of gifts like Kurtis, Soft Toys, Bags and Western wear. This fair trade organisation received a very good response and made commendable sales, especially by the male employees buying gifts for their sisters. The products were highly appreciated because of their good quality, availability in various sizes, economic price and customer friendly approach of the NGO.
In House Corporate Exhibition at R-Tech Park, Goregaon!!!
Continuing its tradition of giving market access and providing efficient marketing services to small NGOs, IRFT gave a platform to a, Panchgini based NGO named Devrai Art Village. It was at an in house corporate exhibition organised at R-Tech park, Goregaon on 13th August, 2012. The exhibition was organised for employees of five corporate giants viz. Reliance Securities, Reliance Life, E-bay, Samsung and NTPC. Devrai Art Village is a core group of highly skilled ‘adivasi craftsmen’ and artists from the naxalite affected areas of Gadchiroli & Chattisgarh. They have found a safe refuge and a livelihood in Panchgani with a unique and distinctive style of product range having combinations of different mediums such as iron, brass, stone, wood, bamboo and fabric. People were excited to see the beautiful collection of antique, artistic items of utility and made many enquiries for individual purchase and corporate gifting.
Financial Education Programme at Sujaya Foundation!
IRFT in collaboration with Swadhaar Finances conducted a Financial Education Programme for the beneficiaries of Sujaya Foundation on saving. The session was organized as a community development initiative for Sujaya Foundation. The various topics covered were needs of saving, formal & informal options of saving, hurdles in saving, various small saving tips, bank correspondence, bank accounts, towards achieving a better livelihood and overall sustainable growth for women. The workshop conducted by Swdhaar Finances has helped them to prepare monthly household budget and importance of income & expenses calculation.
NGO Mela at NMIMS!!!
IRFT participated in the event “NGO Mela” (NGO fair) with an aim to promote domestic Fair Trade and represent an organization, Self Help Centre, a member of World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO) organized in Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS). The event was organized to sensitize students to important issues that go beyond the confines of the business world. Student volunteers were very enthusiastic to promote NGO products thereby giving opportunities for low-income women and empowering them to bring about changes in their lives, their families and communities. With a wide range of conference kits and bags, Self help Centre earned a good value for their products.
IRFT at the 30th Anniversary of Mastek Ltd. !!!
IRFT organized an exhibition on account of 30th anniversary of Mastek Ltd. a high-end corporate providing vertically-focused enterprise technology solutions. From its list of producer organizations, IRFT represented NGO – SHARE MarketPlace at the In-house corporate exhibition 2012 at the Belapur office. It was an encouraging gesture from Mastek Ltd. Foundation to participate with NGO and support their cause. SHARE MarketPlace created an impact on the employees in the one day exhibition as they were enthralled by the beautiful - user-friendly, designer products. Their products were textile based handicrafts; which majorly consisted of embroidered or stitched, bags, tablecloth, napkins, bedcovers, wall hangings, packed lunch pouches for sale at offices etc.
IRFT meets NGOs from Tajikistan to exchange experiences on Fair Trade!
On 5th March, 2012 representatives from NGOs’ of Tajikistan, visited IRFT to exchange knowledge on the Fair Trade Market as they are keen in implementing the Fair Trade model in Tajikistan located in Central Asia.
The Vishwa Show, Pune is the next destination!!!
From 21st to 24th December, IRFT will be participating in the Vishwa Show at Pune. IRFT will be representing ESAF – Prerna Lifestyle, Earthcare Designs and Grameen Shramik Pratisthan with their eco-friendly products at the exhibition. The Vishwa Show, is an international platform for sharing ideas, showcasing products and creating awareness. It is an exhibition cum sale for Eco-Friendly products under the theme of “Go Green”.
Please support the initiative, visit the exhibition and purchase New Year gifts for friends and family.
Please support the initiative, visit the exhibition and purchase New Year gifts for friends and family.
IRFT at the Christmas Bazaar- 16th and 17th December, 2011
IRFT participated in the Christmas Bazaar with an aim to promote Domestic Fair Trade and providing market access opportunity to SHARE MarketPlace - a Fair Trade Organisation. The Annual Xmas Bazaar was organised by Bandra Gymkhana for the people of the city to celebrate Christmas cheer. More than 100 stalls sold traditional homemade Christmas food and sweets, Christmas decorations, apparels, music CD’s etc.
SHARE MarketPlace is an innovative fair trade, not-for-profit organization increasing economic opportunities for low-income women in India and empowering them to bring about changes in their lives, their families and communities. With a wide range of Fair Trade apparel and ladies bag, they earned a good value for their products.
SHARE MarketPlace is an innovative fair trade, not-for-profit organization increasing economic opportunities for low-income women in India and empowering them to bring about changes in their lives, their families and communities. With a wide range of Fair Trade apparel and ladies bag, they earned a good value for their products.
IRFT explores producer organizations in Bhopal, Chennai and Pondicherry to promote Fairness in Trade!
The Community Business Support team visited Bhopal, Chennai and Pondicherry based producer organizations to extend the additional services of IRFT within the challenging environment of domestic demand for products’ quality and quantity.
Participation in The Economic Times “Mega Trade Fair on Corporate Gifts, Stationery, Office Products and Writing Instruments”
IRFT has successfully participated in The Economic Times “Mega Trade Fair on Corporate Gifts, Stationery, Office Products and Writing Instruments” held in Nehru Centre, Worli, Mumbai from 16th – 19th September, 2011.
Marginalised Artisans from five different ogranisations of Chennai, Gujarat and Mumbai were represented by IRFT with an objective “to provide a corporate platform of repute so as to represent products from reputed producers organizations and more importantly show-case what the customer needs as against what we have for the customer”.
The organizations were so selected that could match corporate expectations in terms of quality and quantity and within the scope of corporate gifting for stationary products. They were Evangilical society Action Forum (ESAF), Sahaj, Om Creations, Self Help Center (SHC) and PRAYAS.
Post exhibition follow up to ensure product orders have been understood by the producers, follow up to buyers for samples, pricing, dead-line dates, etc. have been undertaken by IRFT extension service cell to ensure that the order is actualized.
Marginalised Artisans from five different ogranisations of Chennai, Gujarat and Mumbai were represented by IRFT with an objective “to provide a corporate platform of repute so as to represent products from reputed producers organizations and more importantly show-case what the customer needs as against what we have for the customer”.
The organizations were so selected that could match corporate expectations in terms of quality and quantity and within the scope of corporate gifting for stationary products. They were Evangilical society Action Forum (ESAF), Sahaj, Om Creations, Self Help Center (SHC) and PRAYAS.
Post exhibition follow up to ensure product orders have been understood by the producers, follow up to buyers for samples, pricing, dead-line dates, etc. have been undertaken by IRFT extension service cell to ensure that the order is actualized.
Quality Council of India Membership
IRFT has been admitted as a Organisational Member under the category of NGO’s of Quality Council of India in accordance with the Membership Rules of the Council.
IRFT has been admitted as a Organisational Member under the category of NGO’s of Quality Council of India in accordance with the Membership Rules of the Council.
IMPACT - DW Workshop Mumbai 2010
IRFT conducted a training programme on Decent Work in Agriculture for the Implementing Partners of Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) on behalf of the Fair Labor Association (FLA). Better Cotton Initiative aims to improve the environmental and social impacts of cotton cultivation worldwide and make it more economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable. Decent Work forms an important component of this and in turn is a concept framed by the ILO and aims to offer women and men the opportunity to work with 'freedom, equity, security and human dignity'. IRFT being the local partners of FLA imparted a four day training programme in Mumbai between the 13th– 16th of July, 2010 on Training of Trainers who are engaged in implementing BCI’s projects in India. The training was interactive and stressed on the concept of ‘learning by doing’. Thus the training was significant in its delivery of creative communication tools, role plays and other PRA tools and techniques to ensure whole hearted learning and dissemination. Case studies and short films were also used for better and simpler understanding of issues on a macro and micro level to understand the impact of Decent Work.
ENABLE (Enhancing Agricultural Labour and Environment Standards) Consultation, Hyderabad 2010
FLA – Bayer Consultation on Child Labour, Hours of Work and Wages:
On behalf of the FLA, IRFT was involved in inviting participants to engage in a multi stakeholder consultation on Child Labour, Hours of Work and Wages. Bayer Crop Science along with the FLA organized a four day consultation programme in Hyderabad to discuss their current position on Child Labour, Hours of Work and Wages in the Agriculture Sector. The Child Care Programme of Bayer crop was a major part of the consultation and addressed the attempt to reduce the incidence of Child Labour in their farms in cotton seed production in the last five years. In depth discussions on FLA’s definition of Child Labour, Hours of Work and Wages and indicators for the same were also deliberated upon by a cross section of well represented organisations and forums working in the area of child labour.
On behalf of the FLA, IRFT was involved in inviting participants to engage in a multi stakeholder consultation on Child Labour, Hours of Work and Wages. Bayer Crop Science along with the FLA organized a four day consultation programme in Hyderabad to discuss their current position on Child Labour, Hours of Work and Wages in the Agriculture Sector. The Child Care Programme of Bayer crop was a major part of the consultation and addressed the attempt to reduce the incidence of Child Labour in their farms in cotton seed production in the last five years. In depth discussions on FLA’s definition of Child Labour, Hours of Work and Wages and indicators for the same were also deliberated upon by a cross section of well represented organisations and forums working in the area of child labour.
IRFT at Kala Ghoda
IRFT has been successfully participating in concern ongoing mela for the last five years. Every year IRFT provides a platform to a grass-root producer / artisan groups who are associated with us, from different parts of India, to showcase their products in the direct market in the exhibition/mela. This year IRFT had given the same platform to a producer group, from Latur, Maharashtra.
The organization has got first hand experience on urban market. They sold their products worth Rs. 66,000.00 in five days. They have received many contacts of interested people who would like to buy directly from the organization.
This year we aimed to establish the " = " (equal to) sign as a symbol, 'Fairness in Trade', the right to a fair chance. The vehicle to promote this messaging was a "Dice" with six dots, on every side, unlike the regular dice. The messaging was “When we play a game called Ludo, we all aspire for six, because six gives us a chance to start the game, move forward and a chance to grow. Similarly, business is also a game. A dice with six dots in each side, will get six only whoever play the game in the supply chain, right from the farmer/ producer, the middle man, the brand owner as well as the consumer. IRFT choose 6 dots as it represents the highest number, thus progression to the next level and a Fair chance to grow.”
The organization has got first hand experience on urban market. They sold their products worth Rs. 66,000.00 in five days. They have received many contacts of interested people who would like to buy directly from the organization.
This year we aimed to establish the " = " (equal to) sign as a symbol, 'Fairness in Trade', the right to a fair chance. The vehicle to promote this messaging was a "Dice" with six dots, on every side, unlike the regular dice. The messaging was “When we play a game called Ludo, we all aspire for six, because six gives us a chance to start the game, move forward and a chance to grow. Similarly, business is also a game. A dice with six dots in each side, will get six only whoever play the game in the supply chain, right from the farmer/ producer, the middle man, the brand owner as well as the consumer. IRFT choose 6 dots as it represents the highest number, thus progression to the next level and a Fair chance to grow.”
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