Dear Friends

First I would like to thank Cllr John Fahy, Cllr Janet Gillman and Mr John Gamp Clark-in-Charge and Charity Director, Greenwich Hospital, for their kind and continued support for our work. We are grateful and we would like to extend our especial thanks to Greenwich Council for their kind support by asking everybody this year, to support KTS Silver Jubilee appeal to raise money for the school.

You may remember and many of you came to our Fair at Greenwich market during October half term break to mark the 25th Anniversary of Kumbeshwar Technical School (KTS) and campaign for Fair trade awareness to the young school pupils and public at large. Three schools (Black Heath Girl’s High School, St Ursula’s Convent School, and Bow School) in London took part in the Fair. It was estimated that more than 7,000 people visited the market during the Fair.

For the Fair, Jayanti Khadgi Lama (one of the first graduates from KTS rug weaving course, currently working at KTS as head of dye unit), Renu Khadga, Ratna Deula Pody and Ritu Raj Rai were brought over from Nepal to demonstrate yarn spinning and rug weaving. Jayanti and Renu supported by volunteers, Carol Nolan and Maureen Jones, really enjoyed demonstrating and teaching traditional yarn spinning and rug weaving to pupils and visitors to the market.

Following a successful Fair, I am pleased to write that we are working to organise another event “Comolongmo Fair Trade in Schools” (Please click the link for the Project Proposal and application form). This year we are working to organise the event in two famous markets in London: Greenwich and Spitalfields, during the schools half term break from 24 October- 1 November 2009 to continue our campaign and further Fair trade awareness in Schools.

Last year many schools missed out and expressed their interest in taking part in the Fair if it was organised again. Hence, this year we are planning to bring 10 schools on board and we envisage having at least ten pupils from each school to take part for one of the days of the event.

Since the last Fair Comolongmo representatives have returned back to schools to give talks to the students about Nepal and the KTS work and generating awareness of Fair Trade. St Ursula’s Year 9, aged 13 and 14 raised £1,150 in aid of KTS and gave the cheque to Kabindra on 21 January 09 at a special ceremony organised at St Ursula’s Convent School when the prize “elephant” design rug (designed by its pupil Sohpia Dunn) and certificates to the school and pupils were awarded. The Local Councillors Cllr John Fahy, Cllr Janet Gillman and Mr John Gamp Charity Director, Greenwich Hospital attended the ceremony.

Whilst the event has raised awareness of KTS products, earn vital funds and further the cause of Fair Trade, the schools shared many benefits:

• Students had ‘hands –on’ experience of weaving/spinning
• Knowledge of concepts like Fair Trade, sustainability, social justice
• Marketing and business practice/setting up events/sales
• Designing products and bringing them to market
• Learning about the geography and culture of Nepal
• Possible further school links with Nepal and KTS
• Real work experience in a lively diverse London market

Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all our friends for the help and support we are receiving in organising the event. We would also like to add that we are always delighted to hear suggestions of how we can improve and build on this year’s work. As always, a large part of our work relies on your support. If you feel you may be able to help with the event, do please write to us. In particular, we need volunteers to help with the stalls, spinning and weaving workshops, fund raising and many other tasks to ensure things run smoothly!

We are grateful for the support of the Mayor of Tower Hamlets and Humanities Education Centre for Fair. I am grateful if you could recommend and pass on the application form (please click the link for the application form) and programmes to schools, which you think may benefit and would be interested in taking part in the event. We are pleased that a few schools have applied for participating in a 2010 fair. Therefore, we are accepting application for 2009 and/or 2010.

Please click the link for the Project Proposal. Please note the deadline to submit the application form is 1 May 09.

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to write to me at kabindrak@comolongmo.com.

Thank you for your continued support.

Kind Regards

Kabindra and Comolongmo family

www.comolongmo.com
Email: info@comolongmo.com

View other newsletters:

Newsletter 12, Monday, 12 July 2010
Newsletter 11, Monday, 15 May 2010
Newsletter 10, Tuesday, 18 December 2009
Newsletter 9, Friday, 16 October 2009
Newsletter 8, Thursday, 5 March 2009
Newsletter 7, Sunday, 21 December 2008
Newsletter 6, Wednesday, 8 October 2008
Newsletter 5, Thursday, 4 September 2008
Newsletter 4, Saturday, 1 September 2007
Newsletter 3, Friday, 4 May 2007
Newsletter 2, Wednesday, 18 April 2007
Newsletter 1, Tuesday, 7 November 2006