Based in Johannesburg, TRADE PLUS AID (PTY) LTD, Registration Number 2006/030402/08,  has a history spanning over 12 years of project development.  In South Africa, Trade plus Aid has evolved into a fully-fledged social development programme, which began as a fair trade collaboration between Charlotte di Vita MBE and Matthew Hayden.

Trade plus Aid has set up various community development, and social outreach programs.  Through a network of philanthropically minded people and organisations, Trade plus Aid co-ordinates and administers charitable funds in an accountable manner.

The projects that Trade plus Aid initiates are focused on social and economic upliftment and infrastructure development of impoverished rural communities.

These issues are tackled through skills training, fair trade and capacity building.  As the global community becomes more concerned with the damaging long-term consequences of climate change, Trade plus Aid is developing programmes that are focused on appropriate alternatives to the environmentally degenerative practices currently in use.

We are constantly seeking ways to alleviate poverty with projects and programmes that are climate conscious and designed to combat global warming.

Mission and Philosophy.

Our mission is to administer social upliftment programmes throughout southern Africa on behalf of a wide spectrum of clients.

These projects will have long-term sustainability and social upliftment as a core focus. The issues of global warming are coming more to the forefront and Trade plus Aid attempts to combine as many factors influencing constructive change as possible.

Our philosophy is that through consultation with our trustees, we will identify a project that is relevant to a donors profile, put the project into action and manage it.  It is also our philosophy to allow your people to take ownership of a project by forming an integrated relationship with it through constant feedback and hands-on experience.  We take donors on regular visits to your project to show you how your financial assistance is making a difference in tangible ways.  You may even be invited to help with the cooking or hand out food.

Because we believe it is vital for an organisation to be fully involved with its project, there will be ongoing dialogue and consultation as to the appropriate distribution of funds.  Public relations opportunities abound for your organisation in a project that dovetails with your strategic vision.

Ethics, Values and Pedigree.

Trade plus Aid holds the ethos of fair trade and sustainable development at the core of its day-to-day operations.  We take a stand on issues such as intellectual property, ethical auditing and transparency.

Trade plus Aid is an international organisation focused on ethical trading and community development.  The ethical trading initiatives that have been set up by this organisation have created long-term income for disadvantaged communities while generating a base for further philanthropic enterprises.

Trade plus Aid currently facilitates numerous charitable development and empowerment programmes throughout southern Africa.  As well as administering funds on behalf of donors, we also have set up various ethically traded manufacturing projects that compete successfully in world markets.

Through funding from philanthropic organisations, we have been involved in: wood-working factories, candle-making facilities, rape crisis centres, HIV outreach centres, projects for street children, feeding programs in informal settlements and at schools, as well as self-help training facilities such as silk-screening workshops and sewing and embroidery workshops.