20/02/10

UPCOMING EVENTS IN 2010

  Members of Arana Hills Church of Christ   are once again hosting their enormously popular "Global Market Day" on Friday 19 March at 2 Bringelly Street, Arana Hills.  GMD specialises in raising awareness around fair trade and social justice issues and gives visitors to the market an opportunity to support businesses which are working directly with the world's poor and marginalised.

The night market runs from 6pm until 9pm featuring loads of stalls, food and entertainment.  This year funds raised at the market will go to Compassion Haiti Relief.  For more information email Kate at globalmarketday@gmail.com.  Hope to see you there.
 

   And, on Saturday 8 May, to celebrate this year's Fair Trade Fortnight and Mothers' Day in Brisbane, the Queensland Fair Trade Collective www.qldfairtrade.org.au will host a "Fair Trade High Tea" with International Guest Speaker, Mrs Kohinoor Yeasmin, the CEO of Tarango in Bangldesh.

Kohinoor has more than 16 years experience in women's economic empowerment and as CEO, works with some of the most marginalised women in Bangladesh.  Cameron Neil from FTAANZ will also give insights into the importance of fair trade nationally and internationally.

Join us for a glass of champagne on arrival, view an Ethical Fashion Showcase and Tarango product display, take part in our Mothers' Day inspired raffle (with wonderful prizes to be won), and enjoy High Tea overlooking the Brisbane River.

The event will be held at the Arts Centre, St Margaret's Anglican Girls' School, Ascot and tickets are $30 per person.  You are able to purchase your ticket here or contact the QFTC qldfairtrade@gmail.com for more information.

    
 

20/08/09
LAUNCH OF LOOKING BEYOND

 On Tuesday 18 August One Colour and Bliss Ecowear hosted the launch of One Colour's new clothing collection from Kenya.

The fair trade Chilean wine from Southcross Wine Merchants and the organic nibblies went down very well amongst the 30 guests.  I had a bit of a chat about the collection and Kelly of Bliss Ecowear mentioned that the collection had been very well received by her customers.

Thanks one and all.

16/7/09
BECOME A FAN OF ONE COLOUR
ONE COLOUR is now on facebook.  If you want to become a fan just head to facebook, www.facebook.com/pages/One-Colour/106762684240

19/6/09

New Developments with edun live

It's now even easier for those of you who want to put your own designs on "made in Africa" t-shirts.  edun live have just released a new pricing structure and so it's possible to One Colour to offer an even better wholesale price on ethically sourced t-shirts. 

You need only start with a minimum of 10 shirts in any combination of colours (black, white, natural) and sizes (from babies to adults).  Email me at info@onecolour.com.au for a wholesale price list and start scratching your creative itch whilst putting your money into supporting sustainable employment for our African partners. 

It's all a bit easy really!

THE looking beyond Collection 

It's here now and will be stocked in the next week or so at Bliss Ecowear, Paddington and on line.  For more information, please contact me at info@onecolour.com.au

 (Besides the opportunity to each chocolate eggs,
Easter has another message)

Some say He was an outlaw that He roamed across the land
with a band of unschooled ruffians and a few old fishermen
no one knew just where He came from or exactly what He'd done
but they said it must be something bad that kept Him on the run

Some day He was a poet that He'd stand upon the hill
and His voice could calm an angry crowd or make the waves stand still
that He spoke in many parables that few could understand
but the people sat for hours just to listen to that man

Some say He was a sorcerer a man of mystery
He could walk upon the water He could make a blind man see
that He conjured wine at weddings and did tricks with fish and bread
that He talked of being born again and raised people from the dead

Some say a politician who spoke of being free
He was followed by the masses on the shores of galilee
He spoke out against corruption and He bowed to no decree
and they feared His strength and power so they nailed Him to a tree

Some say He was the Son of God a man above all men
but He came to be a servant and to set us free from sin
and that's who I believe He is 'cause that's who I believe
and I think we should get ready 'cause it's time for us to leave.

 HAPPY EASTER 09

 Global Market Evening a huge success!!

Congratulations to the Global Market Team at the Church of Christ, Arana Hills.

The market on Friday 20 March was fantastic with hundreds of people coming along for 3 hours of fair trade shopping, great food, live music and a photographic exhibition.

It was inspiring to be part of an event where the organisers so clearly wanted to make a difference to the lives of those living in poverty by offering consumers plenty of opportunities to buy fairly traded gifts, clothing, homewares and toys.

Global Market will be holding another event on Saturday 31 October 2009.  I would be putting it in your diary now as a must do in October.

 One Colour leaves West End Markets

After over 2 years of regular 4am starts each Saturday, I've made the decision to move the business from the markets.  The core of the business, to provide well made, responsibly made goods at a fair price, will not change as I am still very much committed to supporting my overseas partners.  However, by changing the business so that it operates from home, on-line and at select events means I reclaim my weekends with my family.

I want to thank all the loyal and friendly customers who have shopped with One Colour week in, week out.  You have been a great encouragement to me.  Please stay in touch by getting along to any, or all, of the events I'm planning to be at, sign up for a regular newsletter or drop me a line sometime.

Let me leave you with a little piece of Winnie the Pooh's advice....

 The trick to succeeding at Poohsticks is
letting your stick drop in a twitchy sort of way.

From "Pooh's Little Instruction Book" - inspired by A A Milne.

 Kenyan Trip - August 08

Last month I spent 9 days in Kenya.  Just how much can anyone hope to achieve in such a short time??  Well after making a list of organisations I wanted to visit, lining up appointments, drivers, accommodation, visas and vaccinations I left for my first solo trip in 17 years (last time was a trip to Greece in 1991 when I was single and rather more daring, I think).

I landed in Nairobi at 5am and was through customs/bag collection by 6.15 where the Hotel taxi-driver met me.  I was whisked through the already busy streets of Nairobi, a city of 4 million people.  Two things struck me almost immediately in my sleep deprived state.  The first was how flat the city is and the second, the number of Maribu Storks sitting in the arcacia trees. (Maribu Storks are huge carrion eating birds usually found picking over dead bones in the game parks).

The next thing I noticed was the amount of vegetation in the city.  I don't really know what I was expecting (naively the opposite, I imagine) but there seemed to be bushes, hedges, trees and vines everywhere there weren't buildings and roads.

Then of course there's the volume of traffic; people and cars, mini-buses, bikes and trucks that fill every surface of the road and pavements.

Now for the good bits - photos and what the people (and wildlife) are doing.

While in Nairobi I visited Amani Ya Juu (peace from above).  This group of women produce some very fine pieces of jewellery, patchwork quilts, bags, and children's clothing.  They also run a garden cafe.  I met Magdelene who showed me around.  She joined Amani some years ago after a car accident meant she couldn't complete her training as a nurse.  Through Amani employment opportunities are given to refugees women from neighbouring countries.  Amani is a very serene place and certainly lives up to its name.

 Viva Africa, which means "celebrate Africa" has been set up by Viva Bedi.  Her desire is to provide training and employment for those attending the local Hearing Impaired and Dumb School in Nakuru, as well as people living in disadvantaged situations in the community.

I spent two days in and around Nakuru, meeting people and being shown the factory where fabric for Bedi Investments, the parent company of Viva Africa, is made.  The factory is set up so that the raw product comes in (poly-cotton or cotton fibre) and is processed from start to finish (a completed garment).  This process is called vertical integration.  Viva Africa has outgrown its current premises and will move when the new premises is ready.

Back in Nairobi I visited two card making projects, Kibera Paper and Kipepeo, which means butterfly in Kswahli.  Both these groups started up to provide income for women living in the slum area of Kibera (in Nairobi).  Although I didn't go right into Kibera I did view the rusted tin roof tops and narrow dusty streets as we skirted around the perimeter.  Apparently you only go into Kibera if you live there....

This lady works at Kipepeo on the edge of the Kibera slum.  I was invited to make my own card and experienced what it takes to create a card from scratch using shredded paper and water, a wire frame and a stencil and that's before getting to decorate it.  I have some of their cards for sale at the markets and want to order more.

The final project I visited was Goodwill Kenya in the Kikuyu district just outside Nairobi.  This group was started by a concerned group of young Kenyan graduates eight years ago.  During that time the organisation has grown from one primary school in the local village to now include a high school of around 100 students, several craft projects and with plans for further growth of the high school facilities (more classrooms and boarding dormatories).

  
These boys are attending school during their holidays for extra tuition, not because they are behind but rather because they want to push on ahead.  Goodwill Kenya 's primary school wants to provide a hot drink at morning tea for its students, most of which would have come to school hungry (their only meal being an evening one).  The plan is to have a cow for milk, which has now been

donated, and to find sponsorship to provide tea and sugar as well.  Food for thought.....so there can be food for the kids.  I've got a few ideas for fundraising so if you're interested, send me an email info@onecolour.com.au

I came home realising that there are many opportunities, it's just which ones do I focus on, beside running the business, which is itself contributing to a better life for a few already.  I'm sure, over time, it will become clearer.

 WILD BEAN CAFE at BP Connect

Have you heard the news?  I did via MMM radio and on my Bigpond News page that Wild Bean Cafes are now serving 100% fair trade coffee!  We have a cafe just down the road at Kenmore so I'll have to go and grab a coffee to let them know that their switch has been noticed and it's much appreciated.


Did you know:  20 million more kids in sub-saharan Africa are in school thanks in part to debt cancellation and aid. (source: www.data.org)

 SUPPORT TEAR AUSTRALIA ANYTIME

TEAR (Transformation Empowerment Advocacy Relief) Australia is a Christian organisation dedicated to working in partnership with poor or marginalised communities around the world.

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Contact TEAR Australia this year if you want to get the perfect for the person who has absolutely everything they need (not want).

Whether it's a toilet (a favourite gift in our family), a goat, a mosquito net or school materials, TEAR specialises in giving us the opportunity to look beyond our own desire for things.  Go to the links tab and have a look at the TEAR website.  WARNING:  You won't find any monogrammed golf balls, toys that need batteries or diamante-encrusted computer mice in the catalogue - just really useful gifts for other people.

And now, a few thoughts and photos from

my family's trip to South Africa in August 2007.

From barren, brown plains north of Johannesburg to the deep canyon at Blyde River, to some very close encounters with the amazing, wild wildlife of Kruger and its sunsets, we tried to sample a little of what South Africa has offered to those who visit.

One of the wonderful aspects of the trip was when we were able to meet with people who are using their skills to create a variety of products to support themselves and their dependents.  We spent a morning with members of the newly established project, Zimele, where women from several different groups use their individual skills to contribute to the making of one product.  For example, several ladies with embroidery skills stitch colourful wool patches which are sewn onto material which in turn is made up into a bag by a group of ladies being trained to use the sewing machine.  Synergy takes on new meaning as we see the immense value in using individual skills to the best advantage.

We also had a happy afternoon at a rural school where the children were being educated through drama and song about how to be informed and how to inform their community about AIDS/HIV.  The 5 day programme is run by four young Zulu men.  A highlight for one of my sons was to play soccer with some of the students.

The Drakensberg Mountains, where Zimele is based, provided a dramatic backdrop to the realities of township living where life is hard and water is carried in a plastic bucket from a central pump.  We often saw women carrying large loads of wood on their heads so that they could cook the evening meal.

We were constantly confronted with the contrasts of travelling in a country where both first world and developing world exist side by side.  At the same time, though, we were humbled and inspired by the resilience we so often saw displayed in the people we were fortunate enough to meet.

Next stop Durban, a city that looks out over the Indian Ocean (end of part 1).

Durban is a large city with a very similar climate to Brisbane.  It is built amongst a number of valleys with both the rich, the very poor and all in between building their dwellings on the sides of hills.  After all, Durban is very close to the famous Valley of Thousand Hills (which lives up to its name).  We stayed with friends, who showed us around and we visited a large shopping centre to play a game of mini golf on a course built inside the building.  The courses were so hard we ignored the "par" and just went for as many hits as we needed.  Good for a few laughs at least.

I also had the privilege of spending the day with the lady who is responsible for the administration of Sinikithemba, based at McCord's Hospital.

Sinikithemba provides education, counselling, medicine and support to those affected by AIDS/HIV.  The organisation also runs a sewing training centre and provides an outlet for ladies to sell their beading and clothing.  I was able to purchase a variety of beaded items and some small, reasonably priced wall hangings with a Zulu shield and spear design. Simikithemba also does vital work with children and adolescents, providing education in a non-judgemental environment.

We then travelled to Hillcrest, which also works in the AIDS/HIV area.  Hillcrest provides support and training in craft work and market gardening.  They had some amazing Christmas-themed wire work and I'm keen to get more in.  I took the goods I had to the markets last weekend and sold half of the pieces I brought back with me.  I now need to order more.

                 Market garden at Hillcrest                                     Hillcrest Shop

We took a few drives north through hectares and hectares of young sugar cane plantations just in from the coast.  All along the way, we passed people walking on foot or travelling in the back of utes.  There is no visible form of public transport so people walk or hitch a ride.  We often saw people walking and wondered where they had come from, or where they were going, as there didn't seem to be a building or town in sight.

On one particular trip we found our way to Shakaland, which was built as a movie set for the telemovie Shaka Zulu. Shaka was a Zulu chief who united all the Zulus under one banner.  He fought many wars with the Zulus, the Boers and the English before his life was taken by one of his own brothers.  We enjoyed the architecture and found the Zulu dancing invigorating.  Jeff's and my attempt at the dance were mediocre and our kids were suitably embarrassed, but forgiving.

We spent the last 4 days of our trip in Cape Town.  Apart from looking around the town we spent a day at  Hout Bay, dipping our toes in the Atlantic Ocean.  We were also fortunate to get a couple of great views of Table Mountain between the inevitable cloud cover.  The day before we left to come home the weather fined up and we caught the cable car to the top of Table Mountain, 1000m above sea level where we spent a few hours wandering around the very flat top.  Very beautiful.

Memorable events - our eldest son drank 22 iced teas whilst in South Africa, more than one a day, our younger son sampled as many kinds of chips  as he could and Jeff and I didn't have a bad glass of wine, red or white.

The enduring memories, though, are of the amazing people and the incredible animals.