It’s on now! So don’t miss online Christmas Charity Bazar to get some gifts
The 40th edition of the International Christmas Charity Bazaar (ICCB) is in full swing online with shoppers enjoying goodies and treats from across the globe from the comfort and safety of their homes.
All proceeds from the Bazaar, which will end on December 10, will be donated to a select few charities who have been hit the hardest due to the ongoing global pandemic.
With almost 30 years of experience, the Pakistan Women’s Association (PWA) is one of the oldest participants of the ICCB, an event they look forward to with great enthusiasm. This year, they say, has been ‘ICCB’s most testing year’.
From intricately designed costume jewellery, a wide spread of woven printed and embroidered shawls and stoles, hand-painted blue ceramic pottery, ornamental and useful onyx ware to a lot more of Pakistan’s finest crafts, the PWA has it all.
The International Expats Association, another proud participant of the ICCB for 13 years, offers an assortment of different Christmas decorations and tree ornaments, tableware and bags created by its craft group.
Despite being unable to meet weekly as they customarily do, they have come up with a large range of products through the limited supply of materials they were able to get this year of fabrics, beads and sequins.
With many participants at this year’s Bazaar being unable to offer any products on sale due to shipping/flight restrictions, some such as the Maldivian team have taken to support the ICCB by organizing funds for charity through a country raffle. The Maldives has been involved with the ICCB since 2017 .
Shakthi conducts training for differently challenged women to teach them patchwork, handloom and quilting so they can create products to earn an income for themselves.
The women are paid regular wages for all the hours spent at work and all raw materials are provided free. The Shakthi Foundation bears all costs such as transport, meals/snacks, out-of-the-ordinary-help for beneficiaries (funding a operation, testing,therapy, etc), provision of sewing machines to homes without machines and so much more.
The revenue that is earned from the Bazaar, where they sell beautiful handcrafted bags and pouches, will be used to uplift and sustain these women.
Salvage, a participant of the ICCB for the last five- six years and proud winner of their ‘Kind to the Environment’ award for the last two consecutiveyears, supports the charity Community Concern Society and their various projects for urban underprivileged communities within Colombo and its suburbs.
Salvage upcycles discarded fabric and other home waste into something beautiful and usable. However due to COVID-19, production has been low as getting materials and products to and from crafters had been an issue. Still they are very much a part of the ICCB this year too.
So don’t miss out – visit the online Bazaar at iccbsrilanka.shopbox.lk to pick up some beautiful Christmas gifts!