It was a busy weekend for us Belles with two fundraising events on top of one another. This time my dining room turned into an Alladin's Den to host the wonderful Gill Smith with her Fair Trade Designs jewellery and accessories. It was a cold and icy weekend so the first hurdle was to get Gill here from snowy Sutton Coldfield. That done we sat back and hoped enough people would brave the elements to make her journey worthwhile. We had fewer visitors than we hoped for BUT those who came spent well and we raised another £80 for Helen and Douglas House. Kerching!
Belle no. 4 - Amber Ewers - excelled herself by baking a cake which was enjoyed by our 30 happy shoppers and by the kids afterwards. It certainly got us into the Christmas shopping spirit. Fair Trade is fast becoming an important part of many peoples' lives and Gill is a fantastic ambassador for this wonderful way to shop. My favourite story from Gill this time round was of the factory in Vietnam paying 4 x minimum wage and only employing women over 18 years old. It's basic really isn't it? and yet they have a long waiting list of people wanting to work there.
Fair Trade principles include:
- Paying fair prices to the producers which reflect the true cost of production - world market prices often do not cover even the raw materials!
- Supporting producer organisations in their social development projects- many provide health and education facilities.
- Promoting the empowerment of women.
- Advising on product development to increase access to markets.
- Encouraging environmental responsibility.
- Committing to long term relationships to provide stability and security.
- Campaigning to highlight the unequal system of world trade.
Just because you missed our event doesn't mean you need miss out on the opportunity to shop Fair Trade because you can at: http://www.fairtradedesign.co.uk/ - tell Gill the Belles sent you!
Next week it will be me back again to rave about the Santa Run. I have my new outfit and will be sporting it on the streets of Oxford next Sunday though I don't think they are truly ready for it yet. Andy and Joe are trying to decide whether to go for a significantly faster or slower time than me in an attempt to disown me! Watch this space.
That's me wonderful lol... If you let me know you're shoppng through this link I'll give 10% of the sale to the Belles fundraising. Well done Sian for all your good work:Raising money for Helen & Douglas House, promoting Fair Trade and as a consequence helping to support our friends in the developing world through your jewellery party all at the same time WIN WIN ?
ReplyDelete