A few months ago I
wrote an article, “Traidcraft Needs Our Help”, which explained that Traidcraft
had been running at a trading loss for four consecutive years and was appealing
to the Church and wider community for urgent support. I am now writing with some good news:
Traidcraft reports that December sales were almost £1 million, which was a 24%
increase on December 2014, and that December 2015 was the fourth consecutive
month of growth. Let’s hope that this
growth in sales can be sustained throughout 2016. Ideas for promoting sales of Traidcraft goods
in the circuit are always welcome.
Traidcraft have now
launched the ‘Let it Grow’ Appeal to support their pioneering, life-changing
work to fight poverty through trade and help families, social enterprises and
entire communities to grow. Traidcraft
has a particular mission to help smallholder farmers around the world. Smallholder farmers are responsible for over
70% of the world’s food. Yet they make
up 50% of the world’s hungry people.
Many small-scale farmers are vulnerable and marginalised, unable to invest
in education, training or equipment to help them grow and thrive.
Rozina is a
smallholder farmer in Bangladesh whose life has been transformed by a
Traidcraft project. Before joining the
project, Rozina regularly went without food, and lived in a flimsy bamboo
shelter, sleeping on the floor. She and
her family were trapped in a cycle of poverty.
Agricultural growth is hugely important for communities like
Rozina’s. It reduces poverty directly by
raising farm incomes, and indirectly through generating employment and reducing
food insecurity. Through Traidcraft,
Rozina is now able to grow tea on her land, which means that she is now able to
provide for her family and community.
Ruth H, Calverley
Comments
Post a Comment