Empowering Tribal Farmers
Shop for Change is a nonprofit organization founded in 2009 and incubated by European Union and Traidkraft UK, restructured by Saameer in 2015. Shop for Change's Mission is to empower farmers, artisans, and their families via sustainable trade and provide long-term solutions to poverty. As an Indian NGO, we are the country's first Fair Trade label. We are committed to providing a meaningful and lasting impact on society through sustainable social Change. Through our work, we hope to make the world a better place.
We decided to study unexplored views of pioneering Indian social entrepreneur Mahatma Phule. 300 years ago every farmer had an assured employment under the rule of the king along with his own family business of either farming, pottery, carpentry & forging etc.
But all this collapsed after the entry of East India company who slowly wiped out all kingdoms of India. Due to this it opened doors to capitalism which resulted in converting small business into bigger industries and took away the livelihood of small artisans.
Since then 2/3rd population of India is facing biggest challenge earning sustainable livelihood.
Farmers producing the best agriculture products struggle to market them at reasonable prices, whereas consumers cannot obtain good quality agricultural products at affordable prices
There is a clear need for farmers to reach directly to consumers – This will ensure sustainable livelihoods for farmers while supplying quality organic products at competitive prices
Market Generation
Fair Trade Tourism
Tree Plantation
Skill Development
After completing his Master's in Development Studies from the University of Bath, UK, and a PhD in Physics from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, he joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1982. He held various senior positions in Maharashtra, primarily in Agriculture and Cooperation. After retiring in July 2015, he worked as a freelance consultant. His primary interest is in establishing public-private partnerships for integrated value chains.
A Production Engineer with over twenty years of experience spanning multiple areas, such as submarine design, IT Enabled Solutions, Energy Conservation, Organics farming and Social Enterprise.
Gunjan Jain is a health-tech startup CEO with over 20 years of experience building and scaling high-growth healthcare and life sciences companies. As an IIT Bombay alumnus and a strong advocate of women's empowerment, health and sustainability, she is passionate about using technology to improve healthcare. Gunjan's core strength in building inclusive teams will help the organization's mission to improve the livelihoods of poor farmers and artisans across India. When she's not working, she enjoys scaling mountains in the Himalayas and sharing her love for books with her two children.
Post Graduate in Physics with more than 10 years of experience in Banking, insurance and avid socialist
Graduate in Psychology with more than 15 Years of experience in social enterprising. Chitra works with Small businesses and helps them promote their products, especially women entrepreneurs.
B P Bhagat Bldg, Ayre Road, Tukaram Nagar, Dombivali (East) - 421201
We humbly take credit for being India’s 1st fair trade label that reaches out to goals beyond profits to ensure sustainable livelihoods for artisans/farmers across India.