This year’s 9th annual Wales Fair Trade Fair, the largest in Wales is in Brecon Guild Hall on Saturday 3rd October and Abergavenny Market Hall and Borough Theatre on Sunday 4th October.
Building on last year’s success , which saw some 2,500 people attending, this year will once again provide a great day out with fabulous fair trade and community stalls, dancing and musical entertainment and delicious world cuisine. Ever keen to create more community links, this year’s fair is promoting local diversity and inclusion with workshops and information stands about local and global initiatives. Organisers, David and Martha Holman are working in partnership with Monmouthshire Voices and Monmouthshire County Council to celebrate the diverse and inclusive nature of Monmouthshire.
Pippa Bortolotti, leader of the Green Party in Wales with the Lady Mayor of Abergavenny, Councillor Maureen Powell will open the Fair and pupils from Llantilio Pertholey primary school will perform their winning Fairtrade song.
Love Zimbabwe has been awarded European funding through 2015 European Year for development. This will enable them to bring to Wales Taurai Sinaro (manager of the Chinamhora Community centre) and Mrs. Katsande (representing Zimbabwean Parents of Disabled children and she is the community centre Chairperson.) They will visit schools and community groups to talk about their experiences of running their organisations in Zimbabwe and why Love Zimbabwe’s help has made a difference.
Selling fairly traded goods from around the world, stalls include Love Zimbabwe, Fair Grounds, Fair and Fabulous, Siwok Crafts, Liberation Nuts, Ananuca, Hempish, Zimele, Yirgacheffe,Dragon’s Garden, Equality Ethical, Kitan, and African Baskets. Charity and information stalls include Tools For Self Reliance, Brecon Rotary Club, Shared Interest, Health Help International, V.S.O., Send a Cow, Palestine goods and also Fairtrade groups from Abergavenny, Crickhowell and Usk.
Musical entertainment on Sunday features the Blaenavon Ladies Voice Choir, Zim Voices, Chrys Blanchard’s Abercapella, African drumming.
Food will be provided by Taste Zimbabwe and a selection of other world foods. There will be plenty for children to do in the children’s area including face painting, willow weaving and soap making. There’s even sheep racing!
Local charity, Homemakers are providing a ‘chill out zone’ with comfortable sofas and chairs where you can drink Yirgacheffe fairly traded coffee and enjoy a home-made cake whilst browsing African arts and crafts books.
Sunday 4th October, Market Hall, Abergavenny (10am-5pm). Admission by a suggested donation of £1. Under 12’s free. Contact David and Martha on 07774 608 215 or on walesfairtradefair@gmail.com Follow us on facebook Wales Fair Trade Fair.
