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Weaving Baskets and Connecting Dots

All my fellow travelers will tell you how wonderful it has been to visit a variety of CRS programming. From peace centers, to youth groups, to nutrition programs, we’ve grown in our respect for CRS professionalism, our appreciation to CRS donors, and our desire to be of some use to the people of Ghana. We have been warmly welcomed at every stop by CRS partners and CRS clients eager to share their stories of the struggles they face due to distant water sources, inadequate health care, drought, or general economic insecurity.

As we reflect on our experiences and contemplate our actions when we return home, we are each beginning to discern how we can act in solidarity with the people of Ghana, given our own unique circumstances and our growing understand about how poverty relates to Fair Trade, to faith, and to life at home. Diana White, a nurse from Florida, and mother of contest winner Steve, for example, is musing on how she can best be engaged in water programming. As a health care professional she knows well the necessity of clean water not only to quench thirst but also to prevent disease. The CRS integrated community water and sanitation improvement project will benefit 1500 households during a three-year period, and Diana knows there is much more to do.

Serena Sato, of CRS partner A Greater Gift (AGG) has taken a personal interest in maternal health but also is keen to assess how Fair Trade is improving lives in Ghana. We spent one morning with weavers of Trade Aid, an AGG partner who contribute baskets to the crafts catalog. Sitting on a concrete floor in a shelter made possible through the community revenues that come from Fair Trade, the weavers demonstrated how they twist straw into tight, durable “threads” that are then woven into baskets. This year, thanks to a grant from the CRS Fair Trade Fund, the weavers have worked with AGG to design new products.

Weavers in Bolga

When I asked what was different for the weavers since they joined Trade Aid, they emphasized the community building that comes from being in an association. They mentioned that having the shelter we were sitting in not only provided protection from sun and rain, but it drew people out of their homes for group weaving. This allows expert weavers to share skills with those lacking certain skills. It also promotes friendships and neighborly connections. The association has set up a group bank account to help with emergencies like the cost of funerals, which hold lots of ceremonial and cultural significance. “It is the duty of the group” to help each other out, one man mentioned.

As someone also struggling to find the right responses to all I am witnessing in Ghana, I was gratified when I learned that the community also felt the benefits of CRS programs. When our interpreter explained that most of the group with Serena represented CRS, which did food distribution at local schools, one woman noted “Yes, we know CRS.” And when asked if any of their children received food rations from CRS programs, several heads nodded enthusiastically.

At CRS we call that a “dual constituency” success story—having U.S. Catholics in the U.S. Fair Trade program, who through their purchases of crafts, chocolate and coffee make contributions to the Fair Trade Fund, linked to beneficiaries of overseas programs. To members of this delegation, eager to put their new found awareness and education to work upon returning home, we call that “connecting the dots.”

This entry was posted on Monday, August 6th, 2007 and is filed under Fair Trade, Fair Trade Fund, crafts . You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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What about the Chocolate? »

One Response to “Weaving Baskets and Connecting Dots”

  1. JuanRa85 Says:
    September 13th, 2007 at 1:17 pm

    This is such a wonderful story :)

    Connecting the dots is such a powerful message, it can even mean connecting all of the individuals in the US and Africa, Asia and Latin America together, weaving in the end a pure and socially responsible network of humans!

    I invite you to read my blog http://www.fairlytraded.blogspot.com

    I work for a fair trade wholesaler in Austin, Texas, and I’m uploading our own fair trade experiences and perspectives. When you get a chance you’re more than welcome to read our blog! :)

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