Keswick Fairtrade Event: Celebrate Coffee, Celebrate Ethiopia
Tomorrow – Thursday 26th May 2011 – sees the “Celebrate Coffee, Celebrate Ethiopia” event at the Theatre by the Lake in Keswick which is open to the public. Damian is attending and undertaking a short roasting and cupping presentation, and brews of Oromo Harar and Yirgacheffe coffee will be available throughout, courtesy of Abiyot and Tariku of OCC in Ashton under Lyne.
The event runs from 10.00-12.00 and is repeated again from 1.30-3.30.
There will be a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, performances from the rich history of coffee by Keswick Street Theatre and students from St Benedict’s School, Whitehaven and you can also learn more about Choche (village and community in Ethiopia) from the exhibition in the Friends Gallery: “CHOCHE: LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS”, which is on from 18th May to 20th June.
The disappointing news is that there should have been visitors in attendance from Choche: Shek Mohammed Abafita, Chair of Choche Coffee Farmers’ Co-operative, Sisay Alkasa, Director of Choche School and Dagne Feyera, from the Rotary Club of Jimma. Sadly their visa applications into the UK have been declined for “economic” reasons. They were also due to visit the Roastery here in Holmfirth next week so that is no longer happening either. Coincidentally, we were also due to host Kenyan visitors on that same day, organised by the Lorna Young Foundation as part of the young peoples’ trade links between the UK and Kenya. They have also have visas declined.
It’s worth pointing out that both these visits from Kenya and Ethiopia were completely separate events, both organised by well respected, well organised people who are trying to do some good in the world and bring some wider communities together.
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