Traidcraft - An update

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

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