Partners for Just Trade : Blogger

Sohag and Akhmim Textiles

pjt@partnersforjusttrade.org (Carrie Hawthorne) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:05:42 CDT

I'm sitting in my hotel room in the town of Sohag watching the colors of the city on the other side of the Nile change with the setting sun.

We met with Akhmim Textiles in the town...

Upper Egypt

pjt@partnersforjusttrade.org (Carrie Hawthorne) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:35:04 CDT

I've tried starting this posting about four times. I have wanted to write about the most important part of this trip: the visits with the different groups we're visiting but time has slipped by. And now it's past midnight so who knows how far I'll get. We are in Luxor right now, one of the top tourist destinations where the Valley of Kings is. It's hot here - I think on average it's getting up to at least 110 everyday (although not as hot as Aswan, closer to the border of...

The Nitty Gritty Details of Fair Trade

pjt@partnersforjusttrade.org (Carrie Hawthorne) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:34:36 CDT

June 19

On Wednesday in Cairo I met with the staff and members of the board of directors from Egyptian Hands (EH). EH does the development work (capacity building and trainings) with the producer groups involved in Fair Trade in Egypt. They work with over 3,500 producers across the country. They have a very different model than what we have worked with in Peru or Cameroon - EH is not involved in the sale and export of products but instead leave the export up to a different...

Watching the River Flow - Part 2

pjt@partnersforjusttrade.org (Carrie Hawthorne) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:52:24 CDT

The last time I posted to this blog, I was sitting in the dark in Lima, Peru reflecting on the Bob Dylan song, "Watching the River Flow." As I was just mapping out on the cities I'll be visiting on my trip to Egypt, I realized that I literally will be watching the river flow as every single city that I'll be visiting sits on the Nile River. In preparing for my trip, I've learned a few things about the...

Watching the River Flow

pjt@partnersforjusttrade.org (Carrie Hawthorne) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 10:47:25 CST

I sit here reflecting on my trip in Peru as it comes to an end and it seems as though I have been here much longer than a month. I am sitting in the dark (the electricity went out) which seems appropriate as I'm feeling in a pensive mood.

The initial thought that comes to my mind is that I am so glad...

Into the mountains

pjt@partnersforjusttrade.org (Carrie Hawthorne) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 07:46:00 CST

I am sitting with my laptop under 5 layers of blankets trying to stay warm. Huancavelica is a town even higher up in the Andes than Huancayo (13,000 feet) and without heat it feels quite chilly at night.

Since the last time I wrote we have visited various artisan groups living in beautiful places. A few days...

Artichokes, potatoes, and gourds

pjt@partnersforjusttrade.org (Carrie Hawthorne) — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 22:19:36 CST

A long and beautiful bus ride from Lima on Saturday brought me up nearly 11,000 feet to the town of Huancayo. I was lucky enough to sit in the front seat next to the bus driver and take in the incredibly idyllic countryside (but unlucky enough to have to endure the same whiny Huancayan cd blasting the entire way). The terrain quickly changes from the parched, sweltering climate of the coast to the rainy and lush landscape of the Andes. The straight line on the google map shows the...

Stuck in Lima

pjt@partnersforjusttrade.org (Carrie Hawthorne) — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 22:00:25 CST

I should be in Huancayo right now but a bout with giardia has kept me an extra day in Lima. (Giardia is Dr. Carrie's diagnosis�I took medicine and already feel the party in my stomach coming to an end.)

On Thursday we visited 2 groups that are quite advanced, Grupo Mana and Kuichi. Grupo Mana has been together since 2000 and is one...

Caffeinated and criss-crossing Lima

pjt@partnersforjusttrade.org (Carrie Hawthorne) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:01:14 CST

Since I last wrote, I have visited 4 groups: Emady, Manos del Rosario, Jupa, and Ima Sumacc and have inhaled a lot of pollution. I wish I had a map of Lima to show how many different roads we have traversed. Lima is feeling bigger and bigger by the day. And my teeth are decaying by the minute because each artisan group is kind enough to give us Inka Cola or some other sort of sugar saturated, caffeinated drink. And please forgive my English as I am not one of those people...

First days in Lima

pjt@partnersforjusttrade.org (Carrie Hawthorne) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 11:45:48 CST

Early mornings and late nights spent working and trampsing around Lima (in taxis driven by insane drivers of course) have kept me busy since my arrival to Peru. Today, Maribel, Jorge, and I made our first visits to see two artisan groups in San Juan de Lurigancho, one of the poorest parts of Lima.

The...

An Introduction

pjt@partnersforjusttrade.org (Carrie Hawthorne) — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 11:08:22 CST

My name is Carrie Hawthorne and I am PJT's executive director. I'll be traveling in Peru from January 22 - February 22 to work with artisans on product design and development as well as spend time getting to know all of the artisans whose beautiful products we sell. I have been working with PJT since April and this will be my first time meeting the artisans and the wonderful staff we work with in Lima, Bridge of...