It's a trade off.

Hello!! Yes it's meeeee looking very red! I really do think that it is this extremely dodgy camera, but hey ho!!!
I wanted to post this here because I am just so proud of the 'Tiny Difference' Necklace that I am wearing. I swear that whenever I don it at least 1 person comments on how gorgeous it is. It is (I think) perhaps the nicest piece from my Tiny Difference range (here comes the plug...) You can see it without the lobster posing with it at the Tiny Difference website...

Anyway the reason that I am talking about Tiny Difference, which is my Fair Trade Jewellery company (where 20% of the profits will go back into the poorer areas to help them become self sustaining) is because I want to tell you about Eric who is one of my contacts in Africa. Eric is an honest man that I have been dealing with for over a year. He strives for a better life for him and his fellow villagers.. he's kind of like their spokesperson.

People in the poorer areas in Africa are so used to doing things their way that they (quite rightly!!) don't want to look at Western ways of doing business because they want instant results... I can so see where they are coming from from my trips to Africa. But Eric can see the potential for him and his village. Here is an email that he sent me recently;

Hi Rachel!
I wish to bring to your attention in full the situation I am facing back here which is hindering the supply of the pre order till.The production of the Pre Order is not at all the issue to us.
I am faced here with a situation of finance, $35,000.00 to acquire and furnish a working premises to accomondate about 75 craftsmen and management staff altogether if I am to be on a good footing to gaurantee sustain productivity and prompt supply of the products you have put before us, ie. Bra straps, silver jewellery, jewellery boxes and Tee shirts which we capable of producing talking about samples and Pre Order production.
I have contacted my Bank on this issue, I have showed them some of the samples we have produced for you and emails you and I have in the past exchanged.
Much as they are willing to help us out they are asking for a FIRM DETAILED OUT ORDER FOR THE VARIOUS ITEMS from your end, the orders should cover a period of One year with information on monthly orders, their unit and quantity prices and Mode of payment. They need these figures to enable them provide us with our request.This amount is to provide us with rental of the Working premises for a minimum period of 24 months but subject to renewal there after.
I am compelled to take this decision after suffering several disappointments in my attempt to produce your Pre order as getting all the craftsmen together on daily basis became virtually impossible as this was due to the fact that, African craftsmen operates as masters of their own so are used to CASUAL form of working, ie. working individuallly or in small groups at their individual work places and homes, and again their acquaintance to craft works they already are used to over the years past and their blend of such with seasonal farming and other income making activities, which they keep shuttling through like migrating birds for their daily subsistence.
These led to the conclusion to myself that this form of Labour force is not the best for our intended business activities hence the need for Proper structuring to enable me operate with FULL TIME WORKERS.
I am very confident in the success of this business, provided it is properly tackled and managed and as such I am very determined to go all out to build and grow it to success.
Please Rachel, do your best to provide me with the Firm Order as the Bank have requested as soon as possible. I believe they want to see how Serious you are with the Proposals you have put before Me for which I need this Financial assistance. Thank you!
Hoping to hear from you soon.
Warm Regards,
Eric.

In the Western worlds attempts to help with their malnutrition, disease and unemployment where we (especially I) really have a real desire to help, I can't help but think that in order for them to survive and become self-sustaining they must adopt our western ways of doing business... but the cost is that they will lose their unique way of life.

Are we right by inflicting our western policies and way of doing business on them because we are 'really trying to help them'... but they lose their way of life?

What a wicked trade off!

Rachel Watkyn