Disability, Poverty & Fair Trade

Indochine Natural  was the first, and is currently the only World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) member in Malaysia, and our target has been working with the intellectually disabled. For the Indochine Natural team this has been a fascinating journey, and given the challenges faced, not such a difficult one.

I was reflecting the other day on the wedding we attended (see photo below) of one of the members of the rural based group of intellectually disabled we work with on Penang Island, and what we have learnt about the intellectually disabled generally over the past four years and the impact of our Fair Trade activities:

·      People with intellectual disabilities do not necessarily view themselves as disabled.

·      Disability is all about people and their social relationships in the community and wider environment.

·      Disability certainly puts individuals and their family at risk of being in poverty.

·      This risk of poverty is related to barriers of discrimination, lack of access to education and other public services, and a number of general broader community restrictions.

In working with intellectually disabled members of SteppingStone  on Penang Island, Malaysia, Indochine Natural has been able to improve through on-the-job training the production capacity and quality of their dish wash soap made from recycled cooking oil, and has now trained them to make a general household liquid cleaner, also from recycled cooking oil. This environmentally and skin friendly liquid household cleaner is a very good seller in the chain of JustLife organic stores in Malaysia, is a favorite of many boutique hotels, and has been exported to the USA, Singapore and Japan. Therefore, a remarkable outcome for this group.

In adopting the principles of Fair Trade combined with hands-on skills training, the production of these products made from recycled cooking oil has addressed a number of environmental and social issues in our local community.

Watching these intellectually disabled proudly at work producing these products, they certainly do not see themselves as disabled. The wider community values these products and they see this group as being valuable contributors to society. And most importantly, the income produced from these products addresses the risk of poverty.

Dr. Mike Thair

Co-founder & Managing Director

Indochine Natural