TEARFUND works through churches and Christian agencies to open up brighter futures for the world''s poorest communities, and to see lives and situations transformed by God''s love through the generosity of Christian people. It also responds to world emergencies, providing vital supplies of aid and medical equipment to disaster areas, and supplying food and shelter through local organisations to avoid delays.
Gordon and Brenda Wilkinson are the South East Reps, and also sell Tearcraft goods at local events. They have also sold almost 3000 copies of their book, ''Recipes for Disaster''. See them for a copy - they also make excellent Christmas presents, all in aid of Tearfund!

Brenda and Gordon Wilkinson, both Tearfund volunteers from St. John''s Church have compiled a book of recipes from 25 countries where Tearfund operates, in aid of the charities relief work. Recipes for disaster. relief and development is brimming with tasty starters, mains and desserts from 25 countries across four continents. The Wilkinsons had the idea while eating rice and beans for two weeks on a Tearfund study tour to the Honduran rainforest. €˜This book has taken us on an inspirational journey as we set about collecting recipes from friends, contacts at Tearfund and Tearfund partners overseas,’ says Gordon. €˜Most recipes are delicious €“ I love the Burundian green banana and the Bengali fish in mustard sauce €“ but one or two are deliberately bland, to show what life is like where food is limited. €˜You can choose a recipe and pray for the people Tearfund is helping, afterwards or as you say grace,’ says Gordon. Each recipe works for home or church meals, and comes with information about the country it’s from and how Tearfund is working there. To order your copy email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or send a cheque for £7 to B Wilkinson at PO Box 78, East Grinstead RH19 2YW. Of your £7, at least £5.50 will go to Tearfund.

Representatives: Gordon and Brenda Wilkinson 01342 311516

Cafédirect CEO wins business award

The CEO of Cafédirect, Anne MacCaig, has won this year’s award for the best
female-led ethical business in Britain. The Women in Ethical Business (WEBA) Awards are sponsored by The Triodos Bank, which itself recently won the title of World’s Most Sustainable Bank.

In her acceptance speech on 25^thJune, Anne said: €œI’m really not standing here
accepting this just as myself, because Cafédirect is entirely about 250,000 smallholder growers that we work with around the world . I’m just representing them €. She added, €œCafédirect is a fantastic business model, and I really hope that what this award does for us is inspire lots of other organisations to work in partnership with growers because of the enormous impact it has on lives around the world. €

Antenor Saavedra, a coffee farmer from one of Cafédirect’s partners, San Ignacio Co-operative in Peru, said that the partnership, €œhas been a life changing experience. It has enabled us to improve our economic wellbeing, enhance the quality of life for our families, and provided a means of protecting our local environment. €

Cafédirect produced the first Fairtrade coffee for UK supermarkets and has been a pioneer in popularising the Fairtrade market. In the last five years, Cafédirect has invested over £3 million in its grower partners, representing more than half of the company’s profits. Its relationships with 39 grower organisations positively impact the lives of an estimated 1.4 million people. Growers have two seats on the board, own shares in the company, and are involved in all aspects of its work.

_{Tearcraft goods are Created!}

After 35 years of trading, the Tearcraft range has been rebranded €˜Created’ to
appeal to a wider range of customers, including high street retailers interested in the Fairtrade market. Neil Stephens told us, €œCreated reflects the individual hand-crafted nature of the gifts that we sell. it connects to the creativity of the artisans and the creative God who makes this all possible. It underlines the fact that there is a person and a story behind each product because these items are not just made or manufactured, they are created. €

The new catalogue includes many popular items from previous years as well as a host of lovely new products. It’s easy to help make a difference to the lives of the people who made these gifts: just pick up your catalogue from the back of church and share it with your friends, work-colleagues or neighbours and let your giving this Christmas help people in some of the world’s poorest communities get a fair price for their work and a better future for their families.