Global Citizens Put Brandon and Area on Map



	Global Citizens Put Brandon and Area on Map Brandon Sun “Small World” Column, Monday, June 3 / 24 Zack Gross It always strikes me as unfortunate that the bulk of our population, living in big cities around the world, discount the contribution that small city and rural people make to the welfare of our planet. Brandon and the Westman region are a prime example of active local citizens having an over-sized impact, as both paid and volunteer workers for the betterment of their fellow humans around the world. This month, People to People, a group of volunteer fundraisers and promoters of international development assistance, will be shutting down operations after a generation of supporting grassroots projects in countries such as Mexico, Tanzania and Nepal. For this group, the feeling is that they are “aging out” after forty years of effort. Many got involved in P2P after actually working overseas for governments, non-profits or church organizations and wanting to continue to support good programs and past colleagues in the field. The Marquis Project is another small organization still active in Brandon-Westman, supporting projects in Tanzania and Uganda, both countries in East Africa, focused on helping under-served, under-privileged women to improve their farming, or acquire training and develop small business skills in tailoring. With both Marquis and People to People, this work has included building long-lasting relationships – decades if not generations long – with the communities they support. Many members of both groups have visited project beneficiaries overseas as well as hosted them on speaking tours to Manitoba. I remember, many years ago, a federal government worker coming to Brandon to check out the Marquis Project when we had applied for some funds. He couldn’t quite understand why “people who lived under six feet of snow for six months of the year” would have a global conscience. Once he saw the sense of commitment of our members – and the practical ideas we had for how to support others in their development – the funds were forthcoming. This scenario repeated itself numerous times. Funders came to realize that rural people had lots to offer and that we often chose the more difficult situations and challenges to tackle. Another case in point is that Brandon is celebrating its ten year anniversary as a Fair Trade Town, one of about two dozen across Canada, and one of hundreds around the world, mostly in Europe. The fair trade system pays farmers and workers a fair wage or price for their produce or goods while supporting them through the ups and downs of the international marketplace. For instance, when COVID struck poorer countries and their rural communities, the fair trade system offered financial backing to get them through the tough economic times. As well, the system offers producers support and training in dealing with the weather events, crop diseases and insect pest attacks that have developed with climate change. To qualify as a Fair Trade Town, a certain number of businesses must sell or serve Fairtrade Certified products, such as coffee, tea, sugar, chocolate or bananas and the City must participate in a local fair trade committee and hold events to inform citizens of fair trade. Brandon City Hall, merchants and restaurants have done this. A highlight is the Ten Thousand Villages store on Rosser Avenue in Brandon which has survived the closing down of most of its chain across Canada and thrives as an independent store selling fair trade and ethical products from around the world. Brandon University has boasted a long history through its Faculty of Education in supporting teacher training in parts of Africa, as well as in under-served parts of our own province. As well, local churches, service clubs and farm groups have supported global agricultural, peace and cross-cultural initiatives. Today, one hopes that a new, younger generation of active global citizens will move into the spots vacated by past activists. A group such as People to People ending its run doesn’t mean that the need isn’t still there. We live in a world with immense challenges in environment, health, conflict and so much more. While some of these situations need political solutions, grassroots communication and support through practical projects among well-meaning folks can lead to a more healthy, prosperous and peaceful world. On a visit to Tanzania ten years ago, where we visited schools, clinics, women’s groups and agricultural organizations supported by Brandon-Westman groups, we saw the progress that people had made from the time we’d first become aware of them, but also the continuing need that existed. A young man, about to graduate high school and facing an uncertain future, said to me: “Are you still with us?” I haven’t forgotten. Zack Gross is Board Chair of The Marquis Project, a Brandon-based international development organization, and co-author of the new book The Fair Trade Handbook: Building a Better World, Together. * * * * * Return to Articles page