April 2012 - Watlington Parish Council

How Traidcraft makes a differenceI met Dipali and Shanti in their village, Kolaghat, a dusty two hours’ drive outside Kolkatain India. It used to be a community with very few paid jobs. But 17 years ago these sistersjoined with three friends to set up a self-help embroidery and clothing cooperative. It nowprovides a vital income for 40 women.West Bengal has a tradition of fine embroidery, all of it in the past for family weddings. Thesisters heard about Sasha, an extraordinary women’s community enterprise in Kolkata.They went to ask for advice and support in marketing their designs. There’s now a thrivingbusiness relationship between Sasha and the village.The women have been able to plough back their profits into building a light and airyworkshop with treadle sewing machines, a lending library and a simple kitchen. ThroughSasha, their beautiful designs are now sold to the USA and Europe, but also to the growingIndian market. The Kolaghat cooperative has transformed life in the village.Traidcraft buys from projects like this all over the world. It was started in 1979 as a FairTrade organization to help people in developing countries build a better future for theircommunities through creating their own enterprises.The Fair Trade concept is simple: to open up reliable markets in richer countries like theUK for the products of farmers and craftspeople. Through fair trade, they not only supporttheir own families, but can also transform local working conditions and fund vital healthcare and education. The only catch is that we consumers must be prepared to pay a FAIRprice for their goods.We have been selling Traidcraft food and crafts in Watlington for 20 years. There area variety of goods to buy at the Drop In on the High Street on weekday mornings, andcatalogues from which you can order a wider selection. We buy the goods at a smalldiscount to cover expenses. Any profits are donated to other charities – including AgeConcern, Merlin, the community of Mothibistad in South Africa and Traidcraft Exchange,which helps developing enterprises with such things as designs and marketing.Our next event on the High Street will be a stall on Saturday 21st April at the St George’sDay Fair.On the first Saturday of each of the summer months we will have a stall on the High Street.There will be extra opening times through the autumn leading up to Christmas.Traidcraft’s support means a lot to Dipali and Shanti. They have the flair and dynamism tocreate beautiful things, but they need partnership with people like us if they are to succeed.Maggie Barton22