 |
Hers His Youngsters For The Home Offers Help |
 |
|
| What We Do Fair Trade Ecology Safia's Blog News |
| Newsletter from http://www.peopletree.co.uk/ Trouble viewing this message? http://www.povmain.com/peopletree/feb08/ |
|
|||||
|
|
||||
 |
Our Kenya Producers  |
|
Our Kenya Producers Despite the peace talks, Kenya is still in strife after December’s disputed elections and the damage to the economy threatens to be long term. People Tree works with two producer groups in the country who’ve been affected both directly and indirectly by the situation. |
A producer from Bombolulu |
Bombolulu Workshops |
We recently started working with Trinity, a Fair Trade group based in the Nairobi slums. One of their artisan’s helpers was shot dead during the fighting and the area is still unsafe.
Bombolulu Workshops is one of People Tree’s key jewellery producers, it provides employment for 190 physically disabled people. Their workshops are located in the North of Mombassa along the Mombassa-Malindi road where there have been several skirmishes, looting and houses burnt down. |
| Although there was no damage to the premises, staff that lived outside the organisation were unable to return to work after the Christmas break because of the lack of public transport so production was delayed. It’s also been hard for them to obtain raw materials since many other businesses have not reopened.
Peter, a Bombolulu jewellery maker has been in regular contact with Safia, (People Tree’s founder), during the crisis. He told her they were afraid when they could hear gunfire outside the workshops. It is also very difficult for him being in a wheelchair and having to go out to queue up for food relief, which is the only way to get food at the moment. |
Peter, a Bombolulu producer with Safia |
|
The main crisis that businesses face is the loss of the tourist market. The tourist industry used to employ three and a quarter million Kenyans either directly or indirectly, and half of Bombolulu’s trade was generated by tourists buying souvenirs. Marcia, head of Bombolulu says: "The impact of the post election violence has been devastating, the loss of the tourist market will lead to substantial financial deficits and will endanger many jobs. Already we have been forced to lay off some casual employees and send some of our staff on leave." Bombolulu is now relying solely on the export market, and they have appealed to us to increase our orders. |
|
We have some beautiful handmade pieces of jewellery like our pendant disc jewellery and curved earrings sets available now.
Our Spring Collection, which launches in time for Fair Trade Fortnight, contains some wonderful new designs that Bombolulu and Trinity have somehow managed to get to us on time. People Tree has promised that we will help by developing a new range of jewellery with a top UK jewellery designer – the first Fair Trade designer jewellery – to be revealed shortly. |
|
|
Even in the face of this adversity their outlook remains positive. Anne Munyao, Bombolulu’s Programme Manager says:
“We are still optimistic that 2008 will be fruitful and happy year for us Kenyans and the Bombolulu Workshops family despite how we have started the year. We ask first and foremost for your prayers of peace and secondly for your support as we try to cover the gaps left in the business from the loss of local sales.” Please buy their unique jewellery so that we can help them to keep this very important project alive. |
|
Safia's Blog Safia, People Tree’s founder was in Davos two weeks ago where she was a panelist for the discussion about ‘The Sustainable Consumer’. Find out who she met and what she got up to. |
Robert Polet, CEO of the Gucci group, Saf and Jeff Swartz CEO of Timberland
|
 |
Goody Bags Available Again To keep up with your insatiable demand, we’ll be in the warehouse this week making up more of your favourite goody bags. Goody bags contain at least £100 worth of stock for just £25. Available whilst stocks last |
| Diaty Dates • 25th February: New Collection Launch • 25th February – 9th March: Fair Trade Fortnight |
 |
| Best Wishes The People Tree Team |
| Email policy
You have been sent this message by People Tree because you indicated that you wanted to receive news about People Tree and its work. If you would prefer not to receive e-mails any more, please unsubscribe. We will process your request as quickly as possible. To ensure that you continue to receive the People Tree Email Newsletter, please add people@peopletree.co.uk to your e-mail address book - otherwise newsletters may get picked up by anti-spam filters. |
| Contact Us
Call us on +44 207 739 9659 or 0845 450 4595 Fax us on +44 207 739 8492 E-mail us at people@peopletree.co.uk Address : 91-93 Great Eastern Street London, EC2A 3HZ, UK People Tree is the trading name of People Tree Ltd and is registered in England and Wales, company no. 2949366, VAT no. GB 766 791 083 |