Welcome to the Sankofa newsletter.

In this Issue

	Ho, ho, ho
	5 reasons to buy fair trade this Christmas!
	Groupe Venegre
	Victorian Fair Trade Collective

In Other News

December Trading Hours:

On-line:  24/7

In store:

Mon-Wed 11-6.30pm

Thurs-Fri 11-7pm

Sat - Sun 11-5pm

Christmas Week

Mon 22nd 11-7pm

Tues 23rd 11-7pm

Wed 24th 11-5pm

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Ho, ho, ho

Well it's that time of year again .... just when you think Christmas is 'ages away' it sneaks up and is just around the corner.

Thanks to you all for your support over the last 12 months - its been an amazing time especially with opening the shop and making a 'mad dash' to Ghana and Burkina Faso in October/November.

The main reason for my latest trip was to visit SIAO - a trade fair of african craft held in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) every two years.

A number of not-for-profits and co-operatives (especially from Burkina) receive international aid money to exhibit at SIAO in the hope they will find international buyers.

What an ideal opportunity to make new contacts and discover new products .... in fact it would've been irresponsible of me NOT to go (although for some reason my accountant has the opposite view).

Anyway, you can read about Groupe Venegre below - one of the new co-operatives I met at SIAO.

So ...... bring on 2009 .....

Have a happy and safe "Silly Season"

Kym

5 reasons to buy fair trade this Christmas!

Fair trade gifts .....

1. 'do good' - they help craftsmen and women in developing countries create sustainable businesses;
2. 'feel good' - when you give a fair trade gift you feel all warm and fuzzy inside (and that's not just from the egg nog);
3. 'are good' and different ...they aren't mass produced in factories;
4. 'look good' - they reflect the individuality of handmade products;
5. are easy to find .. you can shop at Sankofa either on-line or in-store.

Groupe Venegre

One of the new women's co-operatives I met at SIAO is Groupe Venegre from Ouagadougou. 

This group of 12 women formed a co-operative 12 months ago and make beautiful cloth bead necklaces (having been taught how to make the cloth beads by a Bolivian woman).  They make the beads using scraps of African fabric and mix them with other small beads from the local market as well as seeds.

As a group they put aside 10% of their earnings from sales into a fund to help each other with medical and other unexpected expenses.

The women work from a space provided at the Centre for Women's Health and Prevention of Female Genital Mutilation which was built by an Italian non-government organisation. 

I was lucky enough to spend an afternoon with the women in the most beautiful tranquil setting (which is in direct contrast to the rest of Ouagadougou). 

Click here to see their beautiful cloth bead necklaces (although unfortunately my photos don't do them justice).

Victorian Fair Trade Collective

Sankofa is proud to be a member of the newly formed Victorian Fair Trade Collective. 

The Collective is made up of eight businesses selling a range of fantastic fair trade products through retail outlets and on-line.

Check out the website to learn more about the members www.vicfairtrade.org.au or contact Brigid Corcran on 0466 407 600 for more information.