To reduce the rate of unemployment and underemployment, Abouna Firas Khoury Diab established several Employment Projects, which operate according to Fair Trade Practices.

Employment in these Employment Projects is not based on gender, religion, marital status, or age. These projects hire both males and females and both Christians and Muslims. Females and males and Christians and Muslims work together in these projects.

Further, these Employment Projects follow Fair Trade Practices. The Fair Trade Practices movement aims to build healthy, long-term relationships within the production chain for sustainable economic development.

Fair Trade Practices ensure that:

• A fair price is paid to provide for the producer's living and family needs
• Safe working conditions
• Care for the environment
• Equal opportunity for women
• No child exploitation

Further, the olive wood and the olive oil is purchased at a fair price from the local people. This price is higher than local market price. This price helps them to support their families and to buy new olive trees to plant in their land.

The Second National Fair Trade Conference “Market Potential for Palestinian Fair Trade Products”

Below are three sources of information about this Fair Trade Conference.

"The Palestinian Fair Trade Network, PFTN, (PARC, FTDC, OXFAM, PFU, HLCS and UWAC) is honoured to request you participation and contribution in the Second National Fair Trade Conference “Market Potential for Palestinian Fair Trade Products” taking place at Na’im Khader Center - Zababdeh on March 16th,17th, and 18th 2009.
The conference will bring together Palestinian and international Fair Trade advocates with the aim of discussing and benefiting from fair-trade market potentials for Palestinian farmers and small producers."
For the complete article,"Market Potential for Palestinian Fair Trade Products" Bethlehem University, Institute for Community Partnership, Fair Trade Developoment Center

"The Palestinian Fairtrade Network will be launched this week by Palestinian agricultural, trade and academic organizations, supported by Oxfam and PARC to help Palestinian farmers and exporters get a share of the growing market for fair-trade products throughout the world. Fairtrade Palestinian olive oil is in great demand with its high quality and distinctive flavor. It leads the way for a variety of Palestinian produce to take their place in the best restaurants and stores and in homes around the world.
Dynamic fairtrade actors, local cooperatives and numerous distinguished academics from Palestine, North America, Europe and the Far East, will gather for the Second National Fairtrade Conference “Market Potentials for Palestinian Fairtrade Products” on 16-18 March, in Al Zababdeh – Jenin. The conference is supported by the European Commission, Oxfam, CCFD and PARC."
For the complete newrelease,"The Palestinian Fairtrade Network opens a brighter future for Palestinian farmers and producers"European Commission Technical Assistance office for the West Bank & Gaza Strip

"As fairtrade products are gaining in popularity throughout the world, Palestinian organizations are mobilizing their efforts to get a share of this growing market by launching the Palestinian Fairtrade Network.
Dynamic fairtrade actors, local cooperatives and numerous distinguished academics from Palestine, North America, Europe and the Far East, will gather for the Second National Fair Trade Conference “Market Potentials for Palestinian Fair Trade Products” on 16-18 March, in Al Zababdeh – Jenin. "
For the complete newrelease,"The Palestinian Fairtrade Network is open for business "Holy Land Handicraft Cooperative Society

Abouna Firas Khoury Diab attended this Conference, made a presentation, talked with the attendees, and gave the attendees samples of products produced by the members of St. George Church.

For more information, please contact the following.

• Abouna Firas Boutros Khoury Diab, cure_zab@yahoo.com
• Martha Liles, mliles@mliles.com