Gateshead Charity, Traidcraft Exchange, has raised more than a million pounds thanks to the generosity of the British public. The ‘Hidden Entrepreneur’ appeal funded a project to create sustainable livelihoods for more than 2,000 entrepreneurs in Kenya, Bangladesh and Senegal.
The public raised more than £500,000 for the appeal and every pound donated was doubled by the UK government through the Aid Match scheme. The scheme gives the British public a say in how our aid budget is spent, matching donations for Aid Match appeals pound-for-pound.
The International Development Secretary, Penny Mordaunt, celebrated the success of the ‘Hidden Entrepreneur’ appeal with representatives from Traidcraft Exchange at Newcastle’s innovation hub Campus North.
Penny Mordant, Secretary of State for International said:
“I want to say a huge thank you to the UK public for their generous support for Traidcraft Exchange’s Aid Match appeal. It is this support that means that UK aid is now boosting entrepreneurs and creating businesses around the world, an important element of our efforts to support our partner countries in achieving the ambition of sustained and inclusive economic growth that will reduce poverty.
“Every pound the public raised, the government matched. UK Aid Match is another example of UK aid working both at home and in some of the world’s poorest communities. The Hidden Entrepreneur appeal will empower the farmers of the future in Kenya, Bangladesh and Senegal whilst nurturing British skills and innovation.”
The appeal ran between January and April this year. Its focus was to find the “hidden entrepreneurs” working in farming communities in Kenya, Bangladesh and Senegal.
These people have the talent and determination to succeed, but lack the opportunities. The appeal then helps these people, especially women, to earn a fair price for the work they already do and get access to the right training they need to set up their own businesses.
The British public raised more than £500,000 for the appeal by holding events like the ‘Big Brew’ coffee mornings in their local communities and taking on sponsored personal challenges.
Maveen Pereira, Director of Programmes at Traidcraft Exchange said:
“We are very grateful for every donation we’ve received. The money raised will go towards helping entrepreneurs in the developing world learn the skills they need to turn their potential into profit and then use that to feed their families and educate their children.”
Note to editors –
- UK Aid Match is designed to provide opportunities for the UK public to engage with international development issues and have a say in how UK aid is spent, whilst boosting the impact of the very best civil society projects to reach the poorest people in developing countries. UK Aid Match brings charities, the British public and the UK government together to collectively change the lives of some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people.
- For every £1 donated to a UK Aid Match charity appeal, the government will also contribute £1 of UK aid, to help these projects go further in changing and saving lives. UK Aid Match is funded from the international development budget, for donations made by individuals living in the UK.
- The first phase of UK Aid Match, launched between 2013 and 2016, funded 59 appeals.
- For more information on the fund, or to make an application, please visit the UK Aid Match website.
- Traidcraft Exchange is an international development charity which uses the power of trade to bring about lasting solutions to poverty. It runs development programmes in South Asia and Africa, works directly with businesses to improve their supply chains, and does advocacy and campaigning in the UK to promote justice and fairness in international trade. It works closely with specialist fair trade company Traidcraft plc. Traidcraft Exchange is a registered charity, no. 1048752: traidcraft.org.uk.
- Photo 1 Shows Penny Maudant
- Photo 2 Shows some of the UK entrepreneurs who have helped the campaign with Penny Maundant and Maveen Pereira