December 07

December 2007

I N S I D E   T H I S   I S S U E

1. Integral Member Agency: A Grand Opening in Slovakia!
2. Programme Networking Group: Indonesia Learning Review
3. Marketing Networking Group: Stromme Foundation: Fighting Poverty

A Grand Opening in Slovakia!

"A few minutes after the official opening, the shop was full as over 80 people came to celebrate Ten Senses' return to the capital," says Olga Auchenbach, Integra's Public Affairs Manager. "Journalists, students, NGOs, & even representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Economy came to show support of Slovakia's fair-trade movement. Everyone had the chance to taste delicious products such as Divine Chocolate, win fun prizes, & listen to live music!" 

Ten Senses was originally founded to provide market access to marginalised producers from Slovakia & surrounding countries. "Once we learned more about fair-trade & its principles, we realised that we could support small producers all over the world & work with other fair-trade companies to improve the quality of their lives,“  said Allan Bussard, Intgegra's Director, at the grand opening of the shop.

Other guest speakers talked about the importance of Slovakia joining the international Fair Trade movement. A short video about the cocoa farmers in Ghana showed the difference fair-trade makes in lives of people in developing countries. The event was moderated by Adela Banasova, a well-known Slovak celebrity & host of the Slovak Pop Idol TV show. "Her knowledge of the topic, combined with a healthy dose of witty humour, entertained the audience & created a fun atmosphere," says Olga.  "She was interested in promoting fair-trade in the media & agreed to participate in our fair-trade campaign, funded by the European Comission, which Integra launches in January." 

Ten Senses webshop

Indonesia Learning Review

Kharul outside her new home "Kharul & her husband Leati & son Augustus didn’t have food for 6 days following the tsunami, until helicopters eventually arrived with rice. They shared whatever they found with other survivors & as she looks back she said that the tsunami was like a dream, taking away those she loved in such a short time. And yet, she calls the house that she has been given a ‘tsunami blessing’. Tearfund UK has built 195 homes for people in Arongan Lambalek & Kharul gestured around her new home & said, ‘See for yourself! We would never be able to buy something like this. We will take care of this house until we die & give it to our children.’ Kharul’s husband Leati is a casual worker, working as a fisherman or farmer wherever he can find work. They had no land or boat before, & were given this land by Leati’s parents. As part of the Joint Learning Review in Indonesia, Tearfund UK Disaster Management Team in Meulaboh, & World Relief US in Banda Aceh organised field visits to their post-tsunami work, which was really encouraging. To see schools, boats, homes & communities benefiting from over $3m USDs raised by Integral Members was uplifting, especially as the press in the UK is always quick to report on what has not gone well. Our Joint Learning Review looked back at how we worked together in order to look forward & make recommendations to the Board & Programme Networking Group of Integral. They will be looking at those recommendations & we will be seeing how to improve our joint working in the future. A big thank you to all eight Member Agencies who took part in the Learning Review - & especially to TFUK for hosting us in Meulaboh, & WRUS for hosting us in Banda Aceh, & organising the logistics for us."

Read more on WRUS' website

Stromme Foundation: Fighting Poverty

“It’s a long word, but visual & easy to remember,” says Trond Backer, SFNO’s new Marketing Director. “We want people to identify our logo of a determined-looking sheep with fighting poverty. Povertybuster is both something you do & something that you are!” SFNO’s overall strategy with Povertybuster is to offer the public a range of communications that will give engagement & preference, & in the end cause a purchase. “Through chosen marketing channels we will create a ‘must be a  Fattigdomsbekjemper’ culture,” says Trond.  SFNO are using blogs, mobile phones, email newsletters, web banners, You Tube, Facebook & celebrities, as well as traditional print media to promote Povertybuster. They have also created a unique range of merchandise. Trond explains, “text the amount of your donation & your t-shirt size to 03002, & we'll send you an info-pack along with your t-shirt.” Type ‘Fattigdomsbekjemper’ into You Tube to watch the films they have posted, & into Facebook to view the FB group which now numbers 567 members. “As well as gaining a new generation of donors, we want to educate people in both the causes & solutions to poverty,” says Trond.

View the Povertybuster blog to see the cool t-shirt!

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