Anneluise Kämmerer is the founder and manager of Worldshop Eisenstadt, Austria and is a regular volunteer to the Preda fair Trade and children home projects. for seven years she has come for up to 4 months volunteering .She visits the home for abused chidlren and interacts with them and teaches them plays games and is like a grandmother to them. They call her Lola, Grandmother. She gives them strength and encouragement to continue schooling and to overcome the trauma that they suffered.
Anneluise is also a Fair trade advocate, promoter and practitioner. In her World Shop in Eisenstadt she have students coming there and she tell her experiences meeting the children at Preda and visiting the many small farmers groups that supply the Fair Traded mangos. she goes with the Preda staff Donard Angeles them and she is present to see the bonus dividend payments checks being handed out to the farmers . It is a joyous event when they receive the Fair Trade dividend. She is a witness to the Fair Trade practices of Preda visiting he famers and listening the stories of good and not so good harvests. Here below is her recent letter after her volunteering 2019.
Farmer’s are happy to receive their fair trade premium
The mango farmers need to care for the mangos from flowering to harvest. It’s a time of hope and anxiety. In the flowering season, if it rains then every raindrop destroys the open flowers on the trees and they will not produce mango fruits.
When I plan my Mindanao trip, I am very excited to see my farmer friends again. This year I went to visit 5 farmer groups
Sir Donard, the technician of Profairtrade, visits the farmers every quarter to pay them the fair trade premium for the mangos that have been delivered. This is in addition to the buying price – which is higher than the conventional one. This premium payment gives farmers the opportunity to create another source of income, as well as to offset poor crop failures.
Some of the groups can only be reached by motorcycle. The motorbike literally goes over hills and dales through a beautiful landscape.
Discussion with the farmers
Meeting with the women’s group
As always, we are warmly welcomed and entertained by the farmers, including three female groups. Sir Donard discusses with them what is going on at Preda Fair Trade he clarifies problems and motivates them, if they had no harvest or a bad harvest and he can hand over a bonus check as the premium payment.
I tell them about my World shop at home in Austria, the principles and guidelines of Fair Trade we have and I show them pictures of the store and its products. They are very interested in seeing how we offer their high quality mango products for sale.
When it is time to present the premium checks, there is tension and joy. The commitment for fair trade has been a strong motivation and gives the farmers renewed strength and joy for they see the positive benefits of their work.
Mango tree on flowering stage
Ready to harvest mango fruits
Finally, we visit their fields and they proudly show us their mango trees. We experience a beautiful flower garden. The trees are full and there are already small fruits. It will be a good harvest!
And we in the World shops can look forward to delicious mango products.
Anneluise Kämmerer
Worldshop Eisenstadt, Austria
