ASOS AFRICA!

I may be a bit slow on the uptake of this, but ASOS have released a new range under ASOS AFRICA, featuring some very on-trend pieces in bold tribal prints. Their pieces make me want to go back to Tanzania!





The material (which are usually sold as a piece called a khanga) is sourced and made in Africa (Kenya and Tanzania), and their tailors in Kenya are being paid fairly.

And they'd better be paid fairly considering that my favourite piece of the lot costs £75! While I was in Tanzania I had a tailor made traditional outfit made for me and cost me TSH 21000, which is the equivalent of £10.19. I'm wary that they haven't got the Fairtrade brand on it yet. If they really are being paid fairly, I would definitely recommend you to buy yourself a little piece of Africa :)

It's given me some inspriation though, since I was given a khanga as a gift and I haven't used it for anything yet. I could quite easily whip up something similar of my own now that I have a few ideas (with the help of my mum of course :p).

You can look at the ASOS AFRICA range here.


PS! Me getting fitted in a khanga shop!


And the resulting dress:

Money Issues

Following on from my fantastic Tanzania news, I urge you all to visit my other website:

http://rainwater-aimi.blogspot.com/

Here, there is more information about the project, and a chance to donate!

Oh! We're Going To Tanzania!

Hello Mr 200th Post!

And what fantastic news I have to type today! Not often (if ever) do I have a grin on my face after spending a large amount of money, but this afternoon I just booked my flight to go to Tanzania this summer! It's going to be AH-MAZING.

So what's the story? Why am I going to the other side of Africa instead of earning money in an office that brings me ever closer to death by boredom? (I'm still doing that anyway for the other half of the summer, but that's besides the point, I could be earning an extra month's worth of work). The story begins with Richard, Mr. EWB President, who decided to continue working with a contact he had been working with over the summer in Tanzania to help with a cathedral. It was noted that the cathedral roof would be very good for collecting rainwater during the wet season. Richard managed to help construct a rainwater harvesting system for the cathedral. Community was pleased, church users were pleased. But after he returned Richard was told that there was an oppportunity to build more, in the Tabora region for Tanzania. All we needed to do was raise the funds to get construction going. And thus the project was born.

Then came along ten students, all very keen on EWB, who got involved with the project, and we've been trying to raise funds ever since. We've managed to get raise the £10,000 needed for the project construction to happen (no mean feat in this economic climate), and now we are trying to raise money to cover our costs to get out there. But we're getting closer all the time, and we've just booked our flights so we are most definitely going!

Tom has started a new blog to update the progress which you are most welcome to visit at http://tanzaniarwh.blogspot.com/. The rainwater harvesting systems aim to provide water to about 1200 people who live in 3 rural villages in Tabora. We will be split into teams and provide some labour to help in construction. A couple of weeks ago we attempted to make our own rainwater tanks out of cement, which you have have a look at on my facebook, or on the Tanzania RWH facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=50031459230

In the coming months we will be pushing to raise the remainder money, so if you see me looking like I need some cash don't hesitate and donate what you can! Hopefully we can get a online donation thing going in the near future so I won't have to harrass people! :P