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The CRS Fair Trade Program creates opportunities for you to bring the values of our faith to bear in the marketplace through your purchase of Fair Trade handcrafts, coffee and chocolate and your contributions to the Fair Trade Fund.

Traveling in Africa

Thanks to President Bush’s travels this week, many Americans are being exposed to some of the great humanitarian work happening on the continent, as well as some of the tragedies and ongoing civil concerns. The trip brings up for me memories of my time in Africa, most recently to Ghana. CRS has decades of experience in this West African nation with nutrition, health and education programs. Ghana is also where our friends at Kuapa Kokoo not only farm Fair Trade cocoa but also help run Divine Chocolate, the first farmer-owned Fair Trade chocolate company. In August, a group of Fair Trade chocolate Ambassadors (see photo below) spent time meeting the people and projects that stand as important examples of progress for the people of Africa.

Of course, there is also much to be concerned about on the continent, and CRS works with partners in some 30 African countries on a range of assistance and development projects. For Fair Traders, our eyes have turned in recent weeks to the instability in Kenya. Our Work of Human Hands partners at A Greater Gift have recently shared reports on the situation of the Bombolulu Workshop for the Handicapped in Mombasa. Demonstrating Fair Trade’s concern for disadvantaged producers, the workshop provides work and residential facilities for 193 severely handicapped individuals. These craftspeople earn 50% of their annual budget on sales to tourists. Yet last month, due to the violence and strife, sales at Bombululu dropped by 90% as tourists have canceled trips.

Long-term partnerships are a hallmark of Fair Trade and groups like A Greater Gift will work to honor sales contracts and commitments for the other 50% of the budget, despite the fact the violence has decreased production capacity with electricity and raw materials in short supply. Knowing that there is a customer based committed to Fair Trade artisans makes the steadfastness of Fair Trade Organizations possible. They can accompany their artisan partners through struggles because they know people like you want to support right relationships based on global solidarity.

If you have traveled to Africa and have memories to share, hopes or concerns to express, or comments on Fair Trade work there, please tell your stories by commenting on this blog, and help CRS Fair Trade continue to build connections and relationships.delegates with host in northern ghana

This entry was posted on Friday, February 22nd, 2008 and is filed under Chocolate, Fair Trade, crafts . You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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One Response to “Traveling in Africa”

  1. On Day One Says:
    February 22nd, 2008 at 2:51 pm

    I’ve never traveled to Africa, but I do spend a lot of time trying to promote Fair Trade ideas. I think it’s important enough of an issue that I’ve been pushing for it on the site On Day One (http://www.ondayone.org), which is hosted by the UN Foundation.

    The site encourages a conversation about what the next U.S. president should do on day one in office. So if you get a chance, check out the diary about fair trade — http://www.ondayone.org/node/833

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