Looking for gift ideas this holiday season? How about a hand-woven scarf from the Jolom Maya'etik Indigenous women's weaving cooperative in Chiapas, Mexico?

That's just one of the cooperatives featured throughout November by la mano – ethical textiles, a group SFU staffer and student Heather Nyberg is helping to promote during the month-long Fair Trade Market Pop-up at 196 Kingsway in Vancouver.

la mano (the hand) is a social enterprise that works directly with women's cooperatives, Indigenous organizations and small-scale cottage businesses in Chiapas and Oaxaca. It acts as a bridge between producer communities and "conscious consumers" in Canada who are seeking a broader range of ethically traded products.

As part of a practicum for her Sustainable Community Development (SCD) post-baccalaureate diploma, Nyberg, an SFU Lifelong Learning program assistant, is assisting la mano with fundraising, sales and marketing.

A part-time student, she has been studying towards her SCD diploma for four years while working full-time in international development and more recently community development at the Vancouver campus.   

"It's a stepping stone to a master's degree," says Nyberg, who has a BA in English but would like to pursue graduate studies in international development.

The Fair Trade Market Pop-Up features a wide selection of unique ethical and direct-trade products made by artisans around the world, as well as locally made pieces. It's open Tuesday to Saturday from 11 am-5 pm and Sundays from 12-5 pm.

For more information: hnyberg@sfu.ca or http://at.sfu.ca/VszHxG.