Celebrate Africa's Kitchen - an event for World Fair Trade Day 8 May 2010

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Africa's Kitchen - thousands of people selling, cooking and eating fairly traded African food products, supporting fair trade producers and small holder farmers and helping to promote fair trade across the UK.

Please come to the Small World on Saturday 8th May 2010 where samples of chutneys, sauces, jams and marmalade from Malawi and Swaziland will be available 10-12.

Malawi Kitchen

For some years now, we have been importing fairly traded goods from Africa. Over the next two years Just Trading Scotland will be developing and importing a range of innovative, ethically sourced products from Malawi under our Malawi Kitchen brand for sale in the UK - rice, piri-piri sauces, dried fruit and vegetables, nuts and pulses as well as a range of craft products. Just Trading Scotland is very pleased to be working in partnership with Imani Development and the Scottish Government to develop new markets for Malawian producers.

Eswatini Swazi Kitchen 

The range of products from Malawi will be a valuable complement to the range of Eswatini Swazi Kitchen brand of sauces, jams, marmalades which we have been importing for some years. Demand for these very popular Fair Trade products from a COFTA-registered producer has grown remarkably and we have been priviledged to supply the retail operations of UK charities as well as Fair Traders all over the UK.

Sign o' the Times

We've just finished stocktaking - no mean feat and all the stock has now been returned to the shelves awaiting the shop re-opening following the Easter break.

One thing I came across during the big spring clean was this delightful pane of glass, a remnant from the building's previous use as a council office:

Once cleaned up, it will make a lovely display centrepiece.

What's the Buzz at the Small World?

 It may have been all quiet on the blog front, but it's been a busy few weeks in the Small World.

We have taken delivery of new stock including the new range of cruelty free/Vegan Society approved hand and body care products which includes a lovely lip balm trio (orange, grapefruit & mint). The new catalogue has some lovely quirky items like these children's cards which double as a mask!  At £5 for 6 they are fantastic value and, being blank inside, would make perfect party invitations.

The new Traidcraft catalogue arrived just in time for our spring Open Morning as part of The Big Brew.  It was exceptionally well attended and we delighted to see so many new faces.

We've had a bit of a revamp in the shop with shelving being arranged to maximise the floor space.  Dave and Christopher will shortly begin painting and have been measuring up in advance of getting new flooring.

And the good news continues, we have two new volunteers (more about them later) who joined our happy band earlier this month.

We are delighted to be the 'Business of the Month' on East Lothian Buzz, the county's social networking site and largest listings of events in the area.


We might have gone all upmarket what with our new shelves and Internet presence but we promise you we still have our old-fashioned customer service!

The Big Brew - Open Morning at the Small World, Prestonpans

As part of Fairtrade Fortnight (22nd February – 7th March), volunteers at The Small World, are inviting local people to join them for a Big Brew event to share a cup of Fairtrade tea or coffee on 27th February from 10 till 12, and help to raise awareness about Fairtrade.

The Big Brew is part of a national initiative by Traidcraft, which encourages schools, churches, workplaces and any other organisation, to host a Fairtrade tea party event anytime during Fairtrade Fortnight 2010.

This event is a great opportunity to increase awareness of Fairtrade and of the issues faced by tea producers in the developing world.

By serving Fairtrade tea and coffee, raising funds for Traidcraft and campaigning to make more tea Fairtrade, we are helping to make a difference to the lives of tea producers.

Help Save the (Small) World

The Small World is facing its biggest crisis in its 25 year history and urgently needs volunteers.

Need more encouragement?

• 47% of all volunteers say volunteering improves their physical fitness
• 25% who volunteer more than five times a year say it helps them lose weight
• 63% of people say volunteering helps them feel less stressed.

Can you save the Small World from closure?

Telephone: 01875 813992

Big Draw at the Small World!

We are delighted to be taking part in The Big Draw!

On Saturday 10^th October between 10 and 12, we are inviting visitors to pick up a pencil and draw either an item on display in the shop or, on the theme “A Day in the Life of...”.

All drawings will be put on display in the shop throughout October.

The Big Draw is the Campaign for Drawing’s flagship, with some 1300 drawing events across the UK each October. This month-long season celebrates creativity and encourages experiment and enjoyment uniting people of all ages, abilities and cultures.

The Big Draw extends the vocabulary of drawing and challenges conventions and preconceptions. It shows how pencil, pen, chalk or the computer mouse can inspire observation, imagination and invention. Drawing connects us with our environment and helps us to see, think and communicate.

The Big Draw is the UK’s biggest free visual art programme, annually involving over 300,000 participants aged 3-93.

Since 2000,The Big Draw has encouraged over two million people back to the drawing board and notched up two Guinness World records. Details of all Big Draw events can be seen at: www.campaignfordrawing.org.

New Autumn/Winter range now available

We have just taken delivery of new stock from Traidcraft's Autumn/Winter range are are very excited!

We are particularly fond of these quirky pots made from recycled magazines.

New jewellery items include the recycled glass and brass bangles and these beautiful dragonfly bracelets.

Remember, if we don't have an item in stock, we can order it for you.

With over 400 new fair trade products to choose from as well as old favourites, there is something for everyone in our latest range.

Pick up your catalogue today!