Fair Trade Village

Friday 23rd May 2003 launched the official opening of the "And Albert Foundation" & "Trading Roots" Village at Van Hage, Great Amwell with authentic buildings from West Africa, Malaysia, East Asia and Indonesia housing incredible crafts from areas around the world. The Foundation celebrates cultures, supports craft people & helps shape sustainable solutions throughout the developing world.

As well as the Trade Fair Village, there was a local schools art competition where the children were asked to submit their works with a theme relevant to the "And Albert" launch. Judging the excellent work was so hard that there ended up having to be 3 joint winners! - Middleton School, Ware,- St John the Baptist JMI, Great Amwell & Wareside C of E School, Ware.

Adding to the atmosphere, Paradise Wildlife Park came along to take part in the launch and brought along some friends. Among them were an Eagle Owl, baby Merecat and somewhat of a rarity these days... a tortoise!

On the left, Jason Monet looks on to see Rolf Harris in the distance as he waits with David Bellamy, Mrs Theadora Van Hage and Mr Cornelius Van Hage. Jason Monet, world renown painter and sculptor who was born in London but now lives in Bali is exhibiting his work alongside some African paintings in the Hamilton Room at Van Hage.

Rolf Harris, friend of David Bellamy and supporter of the "And Albert Foundation" and "Fair Trade" turns up to lend support and incidently..... to attend his book signing! Rolf has two new books out and was signing 'Draw your own cartoons with Rolf Harris' for the children and 'Can you tell what it is yet?', his autobiography, for the grown-ups.

The whole event was enhanced with the arrival of an African troupe of drummers and dancers who sat amongst revellers on the patio outside of Cafe VH and leading to the "Fair Trade" village.

The "And Albert Foundation" is a registered charity set up to create long-term ethical trade with villages in the developing world. All profits are ploughed back into a growing number of projects in the poorest and often remotest parts of the world. This long-term relationship empowers the people to regain their self-respect and begin to overcome their own problems with self-help schemes drawing on their indigenous skills & resourcefulness.

The "And Albert Foundation" a registered charity & "Trading Roots" celebrates cultures, supports craft people & helps shape sustainable solutions to specific local problems throughout the developing world. By learning with "And Albert", everyone can "Share this Aventure".