About
OVERVIEW
Founder's story
Miranda K. Paul is a certified teacher who loves to travel. She has taught English, Spanish, and Language Arts in several states and is enjoying her new role as a mother of two. Miranda taught in The Gambia in 2003, where she learned a lot about Islam, African languages and oral history, and current challenges facing Africa.
Baptiste Paul is a graduate of Bucknell University with degrees in Environmental Science and Political Science. A native of Saint Lucia, a small Caribbean island, Baptiste is excited about projects that contribute to preserving the earth's natural beauty, and that contribute to economic stability in developing countries. Baptiste hopes that his efforts are one of the ways he can contribute to a more accepting society, "A better place for our kids to grow up than we knew."
Read more about our awesome working board of directors at abetterfootprint.org
Our mission
Our mission is to restore dignity to the world's poor through Fair Trade sales and education.
Our philosophy
A Better Footprint is a place where you can discover and participate in the richness of global humanity. Through education about Fair Trade and sales of handmade crafts, we bring the world closer and make it personal. Discover meaningful, positive stories and experience how people living half way across the globe can touch one another's lives. Participate in Fair Trade with A Better Footprint and discover how you can make a difference!
The types of products we sell
Jewelry, Baskets, Gifts, Crafts, Coffee, Tea, Chocolate, Cashews, Olive Oil, African Art, Clothing, Organic and Recycled products, Carvings, Sculptures, Kitchen and Dining Accessories, Purses, Scarves, Paper and Stationary, Toys and Games, Cultural objects, candles, and a whole lot more!
Where the producers live and work
The Gambia, West Africa, Senegal, India, Pakistan, Guatemala, Nepal, Palestine (West Bank), Cambodia, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Honduras, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, United States, Indonesia, Philippines, Dominican Republic, Saint Lucia, Haiti, Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico, Zimbabwe, More...
Projects we support
Njau Recycling and Income Generating Group, Brikama Craft Market, The Gambia Fund (St. Mary's College), Dominion Traders in Pakistan, Krobo bead co-op in Ghana, Central council of Disabled in Sri Lanka, Local Nonprofit Fundraising Goals
How we select what we sell
We select products based on the principles of 1) opportunity for income generation for artisan group 2) quality of product, 3) environmental sustainability, 4) uniqueness, 5) respect for cultural identity
What makes us unique
We are the only FTF member working with our artisan partners in The Gambia, West Africa - please help this tiny low-income nation!
More information about us
In 2003 I made a promise to the people of Gambia, West Africa. A Better Footprint (formerly Worldgoods Fair Trade) is fulfilling that promise - to share people's stories. Not just remarkable stories of heroism, but stories of everyone's daily life. Stories of hope, stories of justice, and stories that tell the truth of things.
Coined by many as a "Volunteer CEO," I, Miranda Paul, am amidst some of the youngest founders of such an international organization and the first to introduce Gambian artisans to FTF's concept of Fair Trade and to US markets.
After all, the women of Njau have taught me the real meaning of SuperMom.
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