Since I joined Oxfam, I have been given lots of opportunities to do things that I have never imagined doing. Thanks to Caron who has believed in me and suggested for me to do what I have done. Like...
1. Manning Fair Trade stalls
2. Giving a talk about my experience in the Fair Trade Group to a new group of volunteers
3. Promoting Solomon Island Earrings
4. Buying Fair Trade tea and coffee for the shop
5. Buying a commode (Oxfam Unwrapped) from shop sales
6. Hearing first hand from a volunteer about war and inequality
Fair Trade products ensure that producers receive a fair minimum price for their products. And Fair Trade organisations work in these villages to ensure that any extra money goes back into the community. Like building schools, water systems, creating work opportunities for women and the list goes on.
It took me a couple of years before I finally put my hand up to volunteer and now my eyes are slowly opening. We can all sit and doubt about Fair Trade. To think that it is impossible to Make Poverty History. But it takes one person to believe for change to happen.
Let's give where the giving is most needed.
I agree- there's a lot we can do to help make poverty history. I write about this this in my new book Beyond Reach? which tells the story of the Make Poverty History campaign in 2005 in a novel way. There are details on www.johnmadeley.co.uk
ReplyDeleteRoyalties from the book go to agencies working to eradicate poverty.