About Us

Two Pocket Fairtrade aims to support disadvantaged producers to improve their lives through business and commerce. We believe that when implemented properly, the world’s poor can be elevated out of the poverty cycle in a truly empowered way.

How it Started

After working over 10 years in the corporate world and retail, we packed up and headed off for a years volunteer work in a developing nation. While living, working and enjoying life with the locals, as well as learning and seeing what works and doesn't work first hand in making a difference in these countries, a passion for making a true change for those caught in the poverty cycle emerged.

One of our core drivers is utilising our skills, passions, entrepreneurial talent and our resources in making the world a better place. We don't want to be just about making money, but changing the communities we live in. By connecting and getting involved in the lives of people in the developing world, we believe we can come together to make a difference, to both achieve our dreams and aspirations, as well as our partners we work with. This in turn we know can change the lives of their families, communities and their country.

The Revelation

Most aid in the world is what we like to call "one pocket aid", which is like giving a man a fish. Sure, it feeds him for a day, but how about tomorrow, and the next day and the next day. While in extreme poverty and emergency situations this is indeed necessary, but it does nothing to alleviate the long term poverty cycle people can be trapped in. In fact, it often creates higher barriers for actually getting out of poverty and truly being empowered.

Many aid organisations out there are doing great things, we're passionate believers though in ensuring the resources that are given to help the world's poor are utlised in an efficient and ethical business way to have the greatest impact.

What does "Two Pocket" mean?

The phrase "two pocket" was inspired by a friend of ours when referring to the book-keeping methods of his micro-enterprise partners two pocket accounting. With one pocket being dollars for him, and the other pocket for paying his suppliers and buying capital plus more. Through the micro-enterprise projects we were involved in, we saw first hand how if businesses were given things like a fair price, guaranteed purchasing, low interest capital loans (when needed) plus fair access to markets, they were able to work their way out of what would be classed as a poverty situation and begin being truly empowered in their lives, plus the lives of the communities they live.