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Newness!

Newness! That’s what education is about. New friends, new ideas, new ways of seeing and engaging in the world, the chance to explore. That’s what Fair Trade is about, new ideas, new communities, new allies and new ways of perceiving trade and providing ways to engage in more just and equitable trade. These are challenges and opportunities we all love; learning, creating, molding and recreating newer, more imaginative, kinder and richer ways of being in the world.

I’ve had the incredible opportunity for the last 38 years to learn to see the world through the eyes of Nepalis and have learned how much their perception exceeds anything I have been taught through a Western lens. I’ve grown so much by engaging with our Fair Trade community (that’s you) about the richness of your interactions with different cultures. And for the past 20 months I have been engaging on a weekly basis with 12 Qero elders in the Andes in a class exploring their exceptional ways of perceiving and engaging with nature. The learning never stops and it’s exciting to think of how much is out there that we still haven’t learned or even thought of seeking out.

Newness also means accepting change and having the faith to know that together as community we can evolve. Just this week my dear friend and mentor, Executive Director and founder of The Association for Craft Producers, Meera Bhatterai, who I have worked alongside for 34 years, is retiring. Her position will be filled by her capable protege, Revita Shrestha. In her letter of retirement she states, “It’s hard to believe 38 years have passed by in a blink of an eye…. It seems like yesterday I started ACP in a rented building with just 38 artisans. Today it has become a thriving institution serving over 800 artisans and employees…I got the opportunity to serve grassroots artisans and empower them economically. It has been an immense honour … We have weathered many storms and achieved many milestones. We are proud we have become a socially oriented and commercially viable enterprise.”  Many of you know ACP and have even visited there. You know what a visionary and courageous organization for women’s empowerment it is. And so new wings will fly this amazing ship and with the strength of our community, we can help them to continue to thrive far into the future.

So here’s to all of those heading off to school (whether at an educational institution or in the rich school of life or into retirement) and to all of us engaging in life-long learning. May your journeys be rich, mind and heart expanding and shared widely. Thanks to all of you engaged in Fair Trade for bringing our beautiful world a little closer for those who aren’t able to physically travel in it and for helping others see through new and different eyes. It is truly through these lens-opening experiences that we can touch the newness and possibility of each day.

Namaste,

Denise

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