More and more people are celebrating the holidays with sustainable gifts; Socially responsible, organic, and fair trade products that look good and do good. Having just returned from South Africa and Swaziland, this holiday season Global Exchange brings you new Fair Trade items that will be offered for the first time ever to U.S. consumers.

"Traveling to Africa to visit with producer groups re-affirmed my commitment to developing mutually beneficial trading partnerships where both sides stand to gain," says Tex Dworkin, Manager of Global Exchange's Fair Trade Store. "For the crafters, their hard work can lead to generating the necessary income to improve their quality of life, and for fair trade importers, we can offer unique products to customers seeking ethically sourced goods."

From Zimbabwe Angel of Peace Ornaments and African Teddy Bears to Eco-Friendly Baskets, your purchase can bring cheer to your loved ones AND communities in Africa working to gain access to health care, education, and better nutrition.

The following are a few of our favorite Fair Trade items that we returned with from Africa:

Zimbabwe Angel of Peace Ornament (see above)

These angel ornaments are made by members of the Batsiranai Craft Project, a cooperative of mothers with disabled children living in Dzivarasekwa township in Zimbabwe. $9.95

African Jungle Animals and Teddy Bear

Global Exchange partners with Ikamva Labuntu in South Africa to offer these loveable creations. Ikamva Labuntu is an organization that helps thousands of people in need in South Africa. It builds and supports schools, senior and youth centers, programs for the disabled, and skills training initiatives. $20-30

Eco-friendly Baskets from Zululand

Exquisite baskets from the heart of Zululand. Rural women basket weavers spend weeks to create each one-of-a-kind basket and use all natural dyes from their land to create intricate color schemes. Your Purchase Helps: Support disadvantaged Zulu artisans and provide income so they can afford health care and to send their children to school. $24-$80

Swaziland Tapered Candles

At the Swazi candle workshop, candlemakers receive training and are treated with respect. Starting out in an old cowshed of a former Dairy in 1981, Swazi candles is now an internationally recognized candle making institution. Your Purchase Helps: The training and empowerment of local artisans in Swaziland. $15.95-$16.95

Global Exchange has seven retail Fair Trade Stores: an Online Store (www.globalexchangestore.org) and brick & mortar locations (in San Francisco, Portland, Berkeley and Washington, D.C.) All products are Fair Trade, meaning the producers receive a fair wage within the local context and work in healthy, safe conditions.