OUR STORY
ABOUT
Some years ago we were posted to Jerusalem which is only a couple of miles from Bethlehem in Palestine. With a foreign passport, I was able to cross the checkpoints relatively easily and often visited to meet Suzan who was in her early days of setting up Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans.
Many things surprised me but It seemed especially strange that with their history of glassblowing going back hundreds of years that no-one had tapped into making Christmas decorations from the very place where the story comes from.
I was pretty sure overseas buyers would appreciate genuine glass decorations from Bethlehem and I knew local artisans desperately needed more work so they could support their families. That has become much more evident recently with so few tourists visiting the region any more.
Right from the beginning we have tried to provide ongoing income for workers. We have achieved this by changing our designs every year so that our many loyal customers can commemorate each season by adding to their Bethlehem Baubles collection. We are now selling thousands of bauble boxes every year and as you will guess, more baubles = more jobs which is the whole purpose of this venture!
We now too have our humble peace lights serving as a reminder of our shared humanity and the desperate need for regional stability. Profits generated from this project help to empower our current artisans to become teachers. Their guidance will ensure an enduring legacy of craftsmanship and goodwill for a new younger generation, across borders and beyond.
After trading properly since 2016 we now have an established routine for production and sales and this year opening up in the US. This will hopefully help us achieve our simple vision - to sell as many decorations as possible and create more jobs!
Thank you for helping us.
Ros Pollock, Founder
Suzan Sahori, BFTA (left) and Ros Pollock, Founder (right)
PACKAGING
In the early days, we faced many challenges not least with packaging. It’s amazing how something so simple can be quite complex to get right. Initial breakages soon became a thing of the past with our new box design that ensures the safe arrival of each bauble. This improvement has been a great success. Shops love how easily the boxes can be displayed and our customers (and us!) have confidence in shipping them and storing all the baubles safely.
GLASS BLOWING
The glass factories in Hebron have been working for centuries. Blowing glass is is hot work - especially during the summer months and requires great skill. Our artisans make it look so easy!
Most of the materials used are recycled – we are pleased about that. Old bottles and window panes are all smashed up to make our decorations which are heavier than other Christmas decorations – they even bounce on carpet!
GLASS PAINTING
Our Christian ladies are delighted to work from home, painting designs on our baubles, bells and peace lights while looking after the children. Jobs are few and far between so they are very grateful for the income.
YOUR HELP
Over the years, we have gathered together some wonderful supporters who are passionate about helping Palestine. With their support, we will keep expanding our reach across the UK, Europe, and the US knowing that every bauble we sell makes a difference to the lives of both Christian and Muslim communities in Palestine.
BFTA
We owe our success to our dear friend Suzan Sahori and her incredible team at Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans. Their dedication and hard work in managing the workers and logistics have been instrumental in making this project a success.
We are also grateful for the support of our trade suppliers, many of whom have been with us for years. Their beautiful shops help market Bethlehem Baubles and broaden our audience.
LOGISTICS
As much as possible, we strive to have everything made in Palestine. Our leaflets and boxes are printed there, and Bethlehem Express handles the shipping logistics through Israel.
OUR TEAM
Here in the UK, we focus on telling everyone who will listen about Bethlehem Baubles! We attend a few fairs and trade shows in the lead up to Christmas but rely heavily on goodwill and word of mouth - that's your job! Down in Devon we have our excellent team at Littledart Fulfillment who pack and ship all our online sales – they do a fantastic job in the lead up to Christmas which gets a bit manic! Together, we form a committed and enthusiastic team with a common goal of selling these small Christmas decorations all around the world and by doing so, supporting the people who live where the story of Christmas begins.
