The 14th annual KAIROS World Craft Bazaar will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Knox United Church.
The main purpose of this Bazaar is to lend support to the numerous people in our area who work so hard to improve the lives of people in nations around the world, all the while using Fair Trade practices whereby workers are paid fair wages. KAIROS facilitates this event that provides opportunities for these organizations to create awareness of their wonderful endeavours and for them to raise funds to carry on with the many worthwhile projects and cooperatives around the globe.
A star attraction this year will be beautiful carpets made in Tibet by villagers working to preserve ancient traditional arts. As usual, there are more than 20 vendors who support fair trade and other ethical pursuits. Participants from around Vancouver Island, and some from the mainland, come to display and sell their exotic arts, crafts, clothing, jewelry, coffees, teas, chocolate and much more. Their products make intriguing choices for gifts or for personal use. For the person who has everything, living gifts such as goats, chickens, and pigs can be purchased on their behalf for a poor family in Uganda or Guatamala.
Local vendors include Aldea Maya, Mayan Families, Mystic Lotus, Kenya Education Endowment Fund and Qualicum First Nation.
New vendors this year are Marigold Collective, Tienes Grano, Gathering Place and Papalume.
Long-time favourites include Ten Thousand Villages, Comercio Justo Imports, Global Village (Nanaimo), Gold Coast Treasures, Floating Stone Silks and, more recently, Small World Imports, African Fair Trade Society, Aviologie and more.
Lunch prepared by the Qualicum First Nation Caterers is available in the lounge where you can relax and ponder your next purchase in support of so many worthwhile causes.
KAIROS Canada is an ecumenical movement, made up of 11 Canadian churches and religious organizations, working for ecological justice and human rights from Canada to Africa, Latin America, the Asian Pacific and the Middle East.
There is no admission fee for this event. It is organized by Parksville/Qualicum KAIROS and co-sponsored by Knox United Church.
— Submitted by Knox United