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TRAIDCRAFT


If you have been in the United Reformed Church hall, you may have seen a small poster on the Traidcraft notice board: "Tea Pickers Wanted".  "Long hours.  Hard work.  No Perks.   No Union.  6-day week.  Salary - 34p a day."   The poster has been there for some time but for many Indian small tea-producers nothing has changed.  How much do you pay for a box of tea bags, depending on size?  £2.50?  That's the weekly income, and the only income for some Indian smallholders.  Despite a dramatic fall in tea prices due to international competition, tea is still big business in India.

  • Traidcraft Exchange, the charity side of Traidcraft, is helping small tea producers to improve their lives:
  • Looking at alternative supply chains
  • Improving business practices
  • Developing new markets
  • Discovering how social standards can improve market access.
    •

When anyone buying goods from my stall says "Keep the change" it goes in the box on my stall.  This money is sent to the charity, Traidcraft Exchange, to help with their work.  If, when you drink your next cup of tea and wonder how you would manage on £2.50 a week, if you would like to contribute to the charity's work, you can always pop a few coins in the box on my stall.  The Traidcraft stall is always on the first Saturday at the URC coffee morning, 10 am - 12.

Jean Wheatley

ELSTEAD AFTERNOON W.I. REPORT
July 2006


At the recent July meeting of Elstead Afternoon W.L. attended by 51 members and one guest, the speaker, Mrs. Betty Dominy started the day's proceedings with her excellent lecture and demonstration entitled `Food for Health'. All members were invited to a tasting of healthy recipes including Carrot and Coriander soup, Beef and Lentil pie, Braised Lamb with Apricots and a Courgette and Ginger cake. Each dish was designed to assist in the relief of specific ailments such as arthritis, heart problems or celiac disease. Helpful leaflets were distributed relating to the content of bought foods, clarifying the mysteries of some food labelling.

Venetia Pierce proposed an appreciative vote of thanks.

Mrs. Dominy judged the competition for `A Healthy Menu', which was won by Doreen Watkins.

Member Lyndsay Sellers was not present, owing to her own mission to see her son, Dr. Piers Sellers, launched into space in the U.S.A. Everyone sends heartfelt good wishes for a successful return to Earth.

Before a delicious tea, a unique presentation took place. Longest attending member Muriel Ragless, who first joined in 1946, celebrates her 80th birthday, and our most senior member Dorothy Eade celebrates her 94th birthday. A superb cake was baked by Patty Pearce and iced by Rene Clark and presented to the two special ladies. Congratulations to each of them.

Future outings include Eve Hall's Baked Potato Lunch on 11th July, the Windsor Castle outing on 3rd August and the Autumn Federation meeting on 16th October at Dorking Halls, where the main speaker will be Terry Waite.
There is no meeting in August, so the next meeting will be on Thursday 7th September when Mr. N. Riley presents `Public speaking - it's a Laugh', and the competition will be `A Favourite Quotation'.

Christine Welland

P.S. Our cake stall at the Elstead Marathon raised £87.80 for W.I. funds.  A big Thank You to our members for the marvellous cakes you supplied for the stall.