Incredible People 1

Since I left behind the world of finance, it has been my very great good fortune to meet and speak to many of the people behind some of Britain’s most active fair trade businesses. Each of them is a great inspiration to me and most have given up much and invested everything they have to make a difference. Most are regular suppliers for our two shops and websites. I salute them and their achievements. In the past few weeks, I have met 2 more incredible people – not business owners this time but charity founders, who devote every minute of their time to making life better for other people without looking for any personal gain or recognition. Each brings a dynamic personality and an inexhaustible supply of energy to tackle a whole host of problems head on.

Project Rhino

Founded in 1988 by Spencer and Janet Gelsthorpe as a personal effort to preserve the black rhinoceros in Africa, this developed into supporting the communities in these areas. Recent projects have included the re-building of a primary school in Kenya and constructing medical dispensary centres. Guernsey volunteers are often involved providing valuable skills to aid the on-site buildings, including in 1999 the Gitwe Water Project, which was partly financed by the States of Guernsey and built by a team of volunteers from the Island and Anglian Water.

Channel Island Ceramics supports this trust by displaying and selling African stone sculptures, the proceeds of which go directly to the charity to benefit small communities in Zimbabwe. For more information on how you can assist, please contact the Project Rhino Charitable Trust Organisers, Chatsworth, Rue de la Mare, Torteval, Guernsey

Bridge 2 Sri Lanka

Sarah Griffith formed Bridge 2 Sri Lanka in July 2005, after spending 6 months working with another locally based Charity,to give humanitarian aid to the Tsunami affected people of

Sri Lanka. The focus has evolved and changed and they now help other members of this impoverished community.  Since the Tamil Tigers exploded bombs in the tourist area, Tourism has collapsed and the result is that all the locals are now struggling as jobs are axed.”

 

Find out more about their work here.

People selflessly dedicating their lives to helping others provide a great example to us – we don’t all have to give up our jobs and change our lives, but if we all give a little – time or money – we can change a great many lives.

Fair Trade Phil