This month Traidcraft Exchange is launching a new campaign in support of people around the world whose lives have been devastated by the activities of British companies.
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We had a very enjoyable visit to the Edgemoor Inn in January. An excellent lunch, good company and an interesting, (but easy!) quiz – the highest score being by one of the husbands! We had a brief discussion at our regular January meeting on the Resolutions for this year’s National AGM. Our members voted for “Protect our Precious Helium”. This is a very important element and not just for party balloons!
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In December, we held a social meeting. We got through the business and settled down to making decorative Christmas Labels. Creativity was intermingled with tea, festive goodies and a good chat! On top of this we sang carols with musical accompaniment provided by Annie Hughes.
As I write this we are looking forward to our first meeting in 2020 – 14th January when we shall discover “The Work of the Grace Network”, a talk by Tom Herbert. Following this on 21st January we are holding our New Year’s Luncheon at the Edgemoor Inn.
On February 11th Dr Christine Hagan will be talking on “Muscle and Joint Problems faced by Post-Menopausal Women”, a subject which many of us can relate to! I am sure we will learn something to our benefit!
Meetings at Box Village Hall are held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, 10am business, coffee at 10.30am followed by a speaker. Visitors are warmly welcomed at 10.30am - £3 including coffee.
Geraldine Ames, President.
Traidcraft Exchange believes that no one should be left behind in trade so they are always looking to see where the need is greatest. Last year Traidcraft Exchange launched a project to help a group of people with specific challenges.
A dignified living for people with disabiities in Tanzania
Two thirds of people with disabilities in Tanzania live in rural areas. Aside from their personal limitations, these people often face 
discrimination and abuse making it extremely difficult for them to earn a living. Coffee, cocoa and palm oil exports are all very important for the Tanzanian economy. There are many different activities involved in the harvesting and selling of these products and Traidcraft Exchange saw the potential for employing people with disabilities.
Last year they launched a pioneering new venture in Tanzania to support people with disabilities to earn a good living by working in coffee, cocoa and palm oil.
Their aims are….
• To provide people with disabilities with sustainable livelihood opportunities in the production of coffee, cocoa, and palm oil. 
• To link growers with reliable and profitable markets for their coffee, cocoa and palm oil.
• To foster a greater understanding of disabilities in local communities and reduce stigma.
We are having work done on the entrance/ porch at Holy Trinity church so, at the time of writing, I cannot say when our next Traidcraft stall will be.
Please look for the date in other advertisements.
Jackie Natt 01453 731018
After a very successful Carol Service held at the Parish Church on Tuesday 3 December members met the next day for the final meeting of the year.
Our speaker, Mr Stephen Rowley, was then introduced and he made an impressive entrance as he was wearing a wonderfully coloured ragged coat and black curly brimmed hat and calling out a Mummers greeting. We were then given a display of pictures showing the various members of a Mummers Group and having the history explained. It is good to know that the old traditions are still upheld.
A vote of thanks was given and we then enjoyed chatting together over tea and mince pies.
We shall be meeting again on Wednesday 8 January (a week later than usual). Visitors/new members are always welcome to our meetings held on the first Wednesday of the month in the Library at 2pm.
Now we are into 2020, the future of Traidcraft using churches as an outlet is still uncertain.
Our Traidcraft Christmas coffee morning at the end of November was very successful and we sold over £900 worth of goods. A huge thank you to everyone who came along or who made cakes or helped on the day. Despite the success, it is becoming increasingly harder to order items to sell and our selection is getting smaller and smaller. All Traidcraft goods can be bought at Oxfam and in some large supermarkets....and this seems to be the pattern that is now happening. All profits from the coffee morning will be sent to Traidcraft Exchange who are more determined than ever to help vulnerable farmers and workers to get out of poverty through trade not aid.
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mechanics, electrical, computer skills, carpentry or needlework/ tailoring. At the end of the course, the Link presents each student with a tool box, in the case of the needlework students, a sewing machine plus materials. Last year, the group of girls who qualified from their course combined their machines, equipment and materials and set up a cooperative, making clothes for the villagers and uniforms for the school students and FDC students. This enterprise has been such a success that the three students who completed their course at the college in December have joined the group, called the Minchinhampton Tailoring Group. It is great to see the students who we sponsor making such a success of their venture. And now, the engineering students have taken a leaf out of the needlework girls’ book and, with the help of their families in building the garage and yard, are establishing a garage in Urambo which they are calling “The Minch Nkokoto Garage.” This the Link is supporting with the finances that would have been used to buy their tool kits (plus a little more!) Both groups have a constitution and local trustees, including involvement by the Urambo Council Officers. We wish both groups of Nkokoto young men and women every success with their ventures. 
After a fairly quiet period of activity during the last three months of the year, the new school year in Nkokoto has brought a busy time for our Link representative Lucky.