April 2005

Calling All Businesses in Northumberland Selling Fair Trade Certified Products

(Cobourg, ON) Horizons of Friendship a Cobourg-based charitable international development organization is producing an easy-to-read guide to Fair Trade that aims to provide an overview of the Fair Trade movement, while at the same time, it will list and promote all local businesses in Northumberland county selling Fair Trade certified products.

Horizons of Friendship invites the local business community currently offering Fair Trade certified products, to contact Horizons’ office and find out more about this initiative that will both recognized and highlight the importance of buying Fair Trade certified.

The guide will be produced and printed by Horizons of Friendship and it is expected to be ready for distribution at the end of May in order to coincide with National Fair Trade week. This is a project sponsored by TransFair Canada.

If you are a local business selling Fair Trade certified products and wish to be listed, please contact: Jessica Farias at Toll Free 1-888-729-9928 Ext. 24 or email at jfarias@horizons.ca

Helping to Change the Odds
By Morganne Campbell
Grade 12 Student at St. Mary’s High School
Cobourg, ON

Horizons of Friendship is a Cobourg-based charitable international development organization committed to eliminating the root causes of poverty and injustice in Central America and Mexico. As a student volunteer at Horizons of Friendship, I have learned a great deal about world issues, and also learned how important and satisfying it is to volunteer with a non-profit organization in your community.

Before I started, I knew little about Horizons’ work of providing financial support for people in need in Central America and Mexico. However, in my few months working there, I have seen how volunteers contribute to Horizons’ success and the well-being of the communities that it assists in the developing world. Non-profit organizations, like Horizons of Friendship, are always in need of volunteers who they rely on to make programs and events successful through their donations of time, talents and resources. Without the help of volunteers, many of Horizons accomplishments would not be possible.

What has really inspired me at Horizons of Friendship is the commitment and diversity I see in its volunteers. While board members are committed volunteers who are responsible for the overall success of the organization, volunteers from Northumberland County and the Kingston area are vital to organizing fundraising events such as “Writers & Friends” and the “Homes, Gardens and Music Tour.” At the same time, Horizons’ Thrift Shop, which runs six days a week accepting, sorting and selling donations, could not operate without the help of its dedicated team of volunteers.

In my experience with Horizons, I know that even if you are doing a simple task like photocopying or stuffing envelopes, you are helping to support an organization that helps many families and communities in need in Central America and Mexico. It doesn’t matter what you do as a volunteer, you will help to make a difference in the world. It is true that volunteering does more then just help to beat the odds, it changes the odds. I would like to thank all of the volunteers, not only at Horizons but all over our community, who are working together to make a difference.