There’s a great opportunity to shop the world on Saturday — without having to leave Parksville, and at the same time support fair trade. It’s our purchases that ultimately determine our impact on the planet and the annual World Craft Bazaar being held at Knox United Church is an opportunity to spend your money in a positive way.
The annual event has been going on for years in the area thanks to the Parskville/Qualicum KAIROS, a local group that works on social justice issues. The Bazaar brings together merchants who support fair trade and projects that benefit under privileged people around the globe.
“We just feel strongly that there is a lot of people doing a lot of projects in a lot of countries and we want to do anything we can to promote the betterment of people,” said Beulah Paugh, co-ordinator of the Bazaar.
A myriad of gift items will be sold from vendors including A Thread of Hope, Kenya Education Endowment Fund, Tabitha Cambodia, Camp Uganda, Sharing Fair and Mayan Families.
Bonnie and Ian Robertson joined the Tabitha Foundation after visiting Cambodia and seeing the people in desperate shape who live there.
The retired couple who live in Nanoose Bay sell crafts, handmade by the villagers, with all proceeds going back into Cambodia. The two have also helped build homes in Cambodia.
“We went in 2006 and built 15 houses in one week,” said Ian. “We brought our own hammers and left them there when we were finished. They don’t have a lot and it all helps.”
The Robertsons were part of a team of 14 Canadians who sponsored a home. Each team member donated $1,200 to pay for construction material and assisted the local builders.
The couple said Cambodians must work for years to build up enough savings to build a home and in all Tabitha programs they must utilize their own savings in order to get support from Tabitha.
Tabitha’s programs have lifted more than a quarter of a million Cambodians out of poverty and despair into lives of dignity, hope and active participation in their communities.
Money from the sale of beautiful silk and silver products from Cambodia at different craft fairs and bazaars is used to support the work the Tabitha Foundation does.
The World Craft Bazaar happens this Saturday Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Knox United Church, on the corner of Pym and Humphrey Rd. in Parksville.
Lunch will be prepared by Qualicum First Nations Catering and shoppers can leave with a smile knowing what they bought was designed with more than just the bottom line in mind.
reporter@pqbnews.com