When devastating floods hit Nepal on 26 August, communities were left facing terrible loss. At St Stephen’s, the church’s Fairtrade work is helping to support those affected, one purchase at a time.
St Stephen’s is a Fairtrade church that sells a variety of Fairtrade products throughout the year. Many are made by talented artisans in Nepal. Through wholesalers such as Namaste Fair Trade, the church helps support local livelihoods and contributes towards the work of Child Rescue Nepal, a charity that supports vulnerable children, including those at risk of trafficking.
“St Stephen’s gives a percentage of sales from Nepalese products directly to Child Rescue Nepal, which is so important in the aftermath of the floods,” said Rachel Witham, a lay reader at Cinderford churches and the coordinator for Fairtrade at St Stephen’s.
“Fairtrade is about so much more than just buying something and us feeling a bit nice about it. It’s real people we are impacting.”
Rachel recently attended a meeting with people who work closely with Nepalese producers and import their goods into the UK. They spoke about the devastating impact of the floods, but also about the importance of continuing to trade.
“The general feeling from the producers was that there’s a huge amount of loss and grief, but there’s also a huge sense from people of the difference that actually just being able to carry on with stuff makes. For the artisans, receiving orders means they can keep working and earning an income, even in the midst of such difficult circumstances,” Rachel said.
St Stephen’s has been ordering more products from Nepal to help keep this support going. The church shop stocks seasonal favourites, including warm hats and gloves, felt Christmas decorations and paper crafts. Each purchase helps support the people who made it and keeps the connection between the church and Nepalese communities strong.
St Stephen’s fashion show
“We held our annual pop-up shop recently, where we open every day for a week and begin with a popular fashion show. This year, Nepal was celebrated in a special way, giving visitors the chance to discover the products and learn more about the people behind them,” Rachel said.
By continuing to buy products from Nepal, the church can help artisans earn a living, support vulnerable children and offer hope in the aftermath of the floods.
“Justice is one of the things that Jesus most spoke about,” Rachel said. “Buying Fairtrade means you are standing alongside people facing hardship, and supporting fair pay for their work.”
You can help, too. The Fairtrade shop at St Stephen’s is open during normal church hours, with its main opening time on Fridays from 12 noon to 4pm. Every purchase makes a difference.
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