Hier die Meldungen aus Übersee im Originalton. Lediglich Berichte per WhatsApp und Telefon oder in Spanisch haben wir auf Deutsch wiedergegeben.

CONTIGO’s Handelspartner haben Konzepte entwickelt und umgesetzt, um die jeweils geltenden Covid-19-Vorsichtsmaßnahmen einzuhalten. CONTIGO hat seine produzierenden Partner in Übersee dazu aufgefordert keine Gesundheitsrisiken bei der Produktion einzugehen, hat vereinbarte Lieferzeitpunkte ausgesetzt und überweist bei Bedarf Schlusszahlungen im Voraus, damit kein Druck besteht, unter Risiko für die Gesundheit zu produzieren.

06.10.2020 Dhakhwa / Kathmandu / Nepal

Here in Nepal, Covid is coming back again and increasing cases, so I guess the coming months will be difficult here again. It is a stressful time for everyone especially when festival are coming, Dashain and Tihar, I guess it will be very different this year but I remain hopeful things will be better slowly, have to take it day by day.

Namrata Dhakhwa

29.09.2020 KAPULA / Bredasdorp / Südafrika

Need to inform you that the CCDI job fund has now arranged us for a grant and an interest free loan. Remember that we received funds for creating 42 jobs.Then Covid 19 happened, now they are offering the above to help employers keep as many jobs as possible.We undertook to keep at least 120 of our existing 162 employees. The rest would need to be retrenched once all UIF money has been depleted. We still claim UIF under Covid 19 scheme, this is ongoing until 15 October. Then the employees can claim UIF on their own. Once this is done, we shall need to retrench. Much is going to depend when tourism to SA gets active again.

André Applegryn, Kapula

23.09.2020 MESH / Delhi / Indien

Positive cases are going up in Delhi and one of our staff member is tested positive recently , she is house quarantine now. Office is functioning in a normal way but our volunteer is working from home. MESH is closed during weekends .

Normal life is affected and supply chain is also not happening in the normal way, so things are getting delayed. Any way life must continue and we are trying for that.

With warm regards,

Mathew, MESH

28.08.2020 Sapia / Bogotá / Kolumbien

Finally, the lockdown in Bogota ended today! We are very excited to be able to return to normality little by little.

Andrea, Sapia

13.08.2020 Shirbandi / Kathmandu / Nepal

Namaste!

All the regular flights have been suspended till the 31st of August.

We talked to the forwarder. We still have to pay higher, than regular, for the transportation right now. [...]

In Kathmandu, private vehicles are only allowed to run on alternate days, based on their license plate number. Public transportation is totally closed. And localized lockdowns are being imposed in certain areas which have a high infection rate.

Sangita, Shirbandi

12.08.2020 Sapia / Bogotá / Kolumbien

We are very excited to be able to work again, but our happiness is at stake, because apparently the mayor decided to close our town for strict quarantine again. The decision will be confirmed today; we are crossing our fingers!

Andrea, Sapia

11.08.2020 Artisan Well / Kolkata / Indien

We all are fine here. But the situation of India is not good at all.  Nearly 2.4 million (updated 24 hours back)  people are Covid positive. No hospital is empty for treatment. Private nursing homes are charging nearly 1 million Rupees  for Covid treatment.  Two days of every week is lockdown ( I do not understand why this lockdown).  Market price of every items are very high. All together it’s a terrible situation. However, we are working with limited capacity.

This time our expenditure is increased a lot. We are paying the cost of travelling of all the staff and producers as they are coming by hiring a car. Local train will not run till 30th. September. All our producers and staff are used to come by local train. Moreover, we are  paying their cost of food as they are staying overnight in our factory/office.

We hope all of you are safe. Take care.

Kousic, Artisan Well

11.08.2020 Sapia / Bogotá / Kolumbien

We have good news! Finally, we went back to work today!!! We are very happy!

We are doing our best to ship as soon as possible all of your orders. However, we have a couple of inconveniences with the jewelry orders due to a lack of supplies in the market [...].

Andrea, Sapia

10.08.2020 Dhakhwa / Kathmandu / Nepal

Hope you are well and healthy.

As the corona virus is increasing the Kathmandu valley, our govt has announced the shutdown of the cities so we are closing down since today our workshop for 1 week. It is indeed very sad news. However our work has not stop as we are giving our workers to work at home as much as possible. Thank you !!Have a nice day!!

Best Wishes,

Namrata Dhakhwa

28.07.2020 Almeerath / Alexandria / Ägypten

Regarding our daily life, mine and all other staff members, you can say business as usual. We have started coming to work on a daily basis taking safety measures all the time, as to distancing, wearing masks and hand washing or sanitizing. We are all fine none of us or our families contracted the virus, Thank God. Here as you know summer is very hot, public beaches are all still closed, cafes and restaurants are semi open until not very late hours. We are working with our usual capacity as we have deliveries coming up soon in one after the other.

Nevine, Almeerath

24.07.2020 Toucan / Ghitorni im Südwesten von Neu-Delhi / Indien

These are difficult times, however things have to go on. Our office is functional but with a lot precautions. We have 7-8 boys stationed at the office itself. These boys look into quality, checking and packing. Everytime we get things from a supplier they are kept in the open for 72 hrs minimum before we use them.

A lot of women who work for us from home have gone back to their native villages.The ones that are here are being given work to take home. It works fine because we do not have as much work as we usually have.

Hoping this will get better soon and life will come back to normal.

Shaina, Toucan

22.07.2020 Artisan Well / Kalkutta / Indien

Here in Kolkata the scenario is not good at all. Every day the number of COVID patient is increasing. So, our government is imposing lock down again for  two days in a week. Tomorrow and Saturday is lock down in this week. You know we are working with limited staff. As the train and bus is not operating till now most of our staff are not able to come to office/factory .

Kousic, Artisan Well

22.07.2020 Allwomenrecycling / Capetown/ Südafrika

Good morning from a cooler cape town. Just sending news on the situation here. We are again in level three lockdown, with thousands of companies closing down and people left without jobs. Quite devastating.

Allwomenrecycling are holding on and many ladies working from home to help keep them safer.We hope that we will soon get your order to get ready for the later in the year order we discussed. Hope all are well at Contigo and that you are slowly but surely getting back to full capacity. Keep well.

Lynn, Allwomenrecycling

16.07.2020 Afrikiko / Tabaka / Kenia

… Der Container mit Eurer Bestellung ist bereits in Mombasa und wird jetzt bald losgehen. Ich wollte Euch schon benachrichtigen, aber ich weiß noch nicht, wie lange er bis Deutschland braucht. Da melde ich mich sofort, wenn ich mehr weiß.

Corona Ausbrüche in Afrika: wie Trump so schön sagte: je weniger man testet, umso weniger Fälle gibt es. Und in Kenia (ich möchte nicht von ganz Afrika sprechen, weil ich es nicht weiß) wurden bislang 225.000 Menschen getestet, davon sind rund 11500 positiv getestet worden. Aus der Gegend, wo meine Schwiegereltern herkommen gibt es allerdings gar keine Tests und niemand weiß, wie viele Menschen dort Corona haben oder nicht. Eine Freundin der Familie ist allerdings an Atemnot gestorben – und man kann nur rätseln: war sie ein Corona Opfer oder nicht! …

… Die Situation in Tabaka ist mehr als angespannt. Seit Monaten sind wir die einzige Firma, die dort produziert. Alle anderen Firmen sind geschlossen. Wir haben natürlich Vorkehrungen getroffen, Seife, Wasserbehälter, Mundschutz, Abstand, all das gibt es bei uns. Und die Gesundheitsbehörde und die Polizei passen auf, dass das auch funktioniert. Die Tabakianer passen auf sich selbst auf. Wenn jemand aus einer anderen Region nach Tabaka kommt, muss er erst einmal für zwei Wochen in die Quarantäne. Die Tabakianer geben dann sofort der Polizei Bescheid, die dafür sorgt.

Afrikiko: Die amerikanischen Kunden haben zwar ihre Aufträge wieder „gerecancelt“, aber mit Rabatten, was ganz schlimm ist für uns und noch schlimmer mit dem neuen Zahlungsziel: 90 Tage nach Verschiffung. Der Geschäftsführer dieser riesigen Firma (nach Wal-Mart die zweitgrößte Kette in den USA) verdient übrigens 1,5 Millionen USD monatlich, diese Info ist öffentlich zugänglich. Solidarität von der ersten Welt zur „dritten“ Welt leider nicht vorhanden. Ihr seid da WIRKLICH DIE Ausnahme und das gibt Mut.

Ansonsten geht es uns aber gut! Wir machen gerade neue Muster – aus der Ferne – nicht ganz so einfach, aber machbar. Und ich vermisse Tabaka sehr. Aber hinfahren geht nicht…

Liebe Grüße von Eurer Dagmar

08.07.2020 Vinayak / Jodhpur / Indien

All the entire team of Vinayak are fine and safe. As the situation in Jodhpur is getting

improved day by day. We have started working from June first week onwards following with all the Covid norms. As the 50%-55% worker are only presently on work and rest went to their native place due to lockdown, but they will be start to coming back again. All the things are very slowly getting back to normal.

Prem, Vinayak

05.07.2020 Gautam / Kathmandu / Nepal

Namaste!

Die Regierung hat keine finanzielle Unterstützung von Europa erhalten. Unser Land hat grosse finanzielle Probleme. Noch mehr Arbeitslosigkeit und weniger Steuereinnahmen. Ein grosser Teil der Tourismusbranche ist schwer betroffen und auch der Export. Wir hoffen, irgendwie die Zeit zu Überstehen!

Hari Gautam

02.07.2020 Gautam / Kathmandu / Nepal

Wegen des Lockdown sind alle Leute ins Dorf zu der Hauptfamilie zurückgefahren, weil sie alle Angst hatten, dass es in Kathmandu keine Lebensmittel mehr geben würden.

Der lockdown ist etwas gelockert, aber immer noch dürfen öffentliche Verkehrsmittel nicht fahren. Je nachdem, ob man eine gerade oder ungerade Nummer auf dem Nummernschild hat, darf man jeden zweiten Tag mit privatem Verkehrsmittel fahren.  Man darf immer noch nicht von ein Landkreis zu anderen fahren. Man darf sich nur innerhalb von einem Landkreis mit dem eigenen Verkehrsmittel bewegen. Die Leute haben Verständnis für den Lockdown, weil die Staat keine gute medizinische Versorgung hat. Wenn es richtig los geht, dann müssen die Leute selber schauen, wie man sich heilt. Deswegen sind die Leute sehr vorsichtig und verstehen die Situation, die weltweit passiert. Die einfachen Leute, die von Tagelohn leben müssen, haben es schwer, weil sie vom Staat bis jetzt keine finanzielle Unterstützung erhalten. Private Leute haben gassenweise ein gemeinsames Zentrum eingerichtet und für die Leute, die sich kein Essen leisten können, zusammen gekocht. Die Leute müssen mit eigenem Teller dort hin gehen und Essen holen. Kathmandu ist fast 100 Tage ohne Auto, die Luft ist besser geworden.

Viele herzliche Grüsse, Hari Gautam

23.06.2020 Dhakhwa / Kathmandu / Nepal

Namrata schreibt uns nach dem Erhalt der Spende aus dem Corona-Hilfsfonds:

Dear Monika, Hope you are doing good.

Attached please find the list of the candidates that we have distributed the money.

Also thank you so much once again for this great gesture. Everyone is very happy for the financial help that you had provided. Thanks a lot.

Namrata Dhakhwa

17.06.2020 Dhakhwa / Kathmandu / Nepal

The situation is very weird.  There is a Coronavirus and also the demonstration in the country. In Nepal, more than the death rate of  virus we have more death from the lockdown . The death rate from the virus is only 19 people however from the lockdown people have attempted suicides and the case has reach 1200 people death. The lock down case has a very serious effect in the country. The production is stopped , people cannot go to work and they  die of hunger and depression from the lockdown. The situation is very serious.  I really hope and pray there won't be a second wave that might bring a second lockdown.

We are all good and healthy till now and our workers and their family too. During the lockdown we had also given the work to our workers so that they can work during the lockdown  and that we are open our workplace but we are still working reduced at the office.

I wish you and hope you all stay good and healthy.

Namrata Dhakhwa

15.06.2020 MAMBU / Johannesburg / Südafrika
Sorry for delay in getting back to you regarding the order, we have just been in two minds as to the best way forward and if it suite you I would like to request that we delay the order by a couple more months, hopefully this will be better for you too.You see as I said we with the advice of labour lawyers made the decision to do a temporary layoff for 3 months however at the time the lockdown was meant to be for only 3 weeks but as that became much much longer the labour lawyers have said that we can extend the temporary layoff for a further two or three months, we will be looking carefully at the dates and deciding exactly how much longer we will be closed. Thereafter we will have no choice but to retrench our staff and rehire them back on a subcontracting basis as the weekly wage bill will not be sustainable. We are very committed to them and do not want to loose them but we need to be realistic as things are not going to get back to normal for a very long time especially for those such as ourselves who are so very dependent on tourism. Our staff will then apply for further help from UIF and we will of course assist them through this process. Then comes the huge task of raising money for the retrenchments but hopefully our staff will be willing to be paid off over a few months. We therefore think that it would be best to do a bigger order in a few months time, let me know if that suits you. However thank you so much for your offer to do an order now and pay us up front, the gesture is most appreciated.
Françoise, Mambu

15.06.2020 Shirbandi / Kathmandu / Nepal

Namaste! We all are fine. So far, there is no problem.

In Kathmandu, all the shops and workshops are open from today, following safety precautions. Private vehicles can run on alternate days according to the vehicle number.

Sangita, Shirbandi

15.06.2020 Artisan Well / Kalkutta / Indien

We have started working in factory and office with limited man power.  For maintaining at least 1 meter distance we are allowed to work only 4 groups instead of 10 groups.  We reserved three cars to bring them from their village. They are  staying at night in the factory as there is no means of transport. So the production is little slow.

During  the lockdown period ( two and half months) we have paid wages  and salaries to all our producers otherwise they would be trouble. For this reason our total fund is exhausted and it is a bit difficult to bare the daily routine cost at this moment […].

Kousic, Artisan Well 

12.06.2020 Dhakhwa / Kathmandu / Nepal

In Nepal there is still lock down but slowly it has moved out. It has been 80 days almost with no income. So the shops and the factory are slowly started to open. It is a crazy year .

Despite of the lock down we have also slowly opened our production with only limited people and less working hours. Till now the international flight have not resume yet only the chartered planes are flying.

Namrata Dhakhwa

09.06.2020 Rajesh / Kathmandu / Nepal

[…] million apologies for not been able to reply back to you on time regarding your order. Due to this covid pandemic we are still under lockdowns and our factory and office is closed. We are hopefully open from 15th June. But the infection number are skyrocketing than before. This is worrisome. Due to this fact we were not able to respond and process your email. Anyways, we will be going to the office soon. […]

Regards,

Rajesh Shrestha

05.06.2020 Kapula / Bredasdorp / Südafrika

We have started work with only 30 of our 170 employees. Things are looking pretty grim right now. The only orders we have are from overseas, yours, USA, Saudi Arabia.

South African retailers have only started trading on Monday, hope things pick up over time.

We have lost about 35% of our business, due to the lockdown on international tourists. We don not expect any tourists will be allowed before March 2021. This is quite serious for our business. Another factor being that many of our smaller gift and boutique stores will not even reopen.

André, Kapula

04.06.2020 Sapia / Bogotá / Kolumbien

Our concern is that last Friday, the lockdown was extended again until June 30! We are moving forward with the procedures to see if our export area can be open to export our pending orders, but we don't know yet when we'll be allowed to export yet. I'll keep you posted.

Andrea, Sapia

03.06.2020 Shirbandi / Kathmandu / Nepal

[...] And thank you very much for giving us work in this difficult situation. [...]

The lockdown has been relaxed a little now. Our workshop is open from Sunday. Staff who live nearby are coming to work. Those who live far are working from their houses. [...] There is a rumour that the flights may resume. Hopefully, we can dispatch the last order soon. All the goods are ready.

Sangita, Shirbandi

28.05.2020 Allpa / Lima / Peru

Thanks for your concerns.

In Peru our government has taken following decisions to compensate on the difficult economic situation

1. $ 200 given once for the extremely por
2. 35% subsidy for those receiving below $400 salaries ( one time)
3. Loans for enterprises to be used as working capital
4. Some food for the very poor

But for people who are losing their Jobs there is no unemployment insurance unfortunately. So we need to protect our Jobs.

Warm regards and stay healthy,

María, Allpa

26.5.2020 Chako / Stone Town, Sansibar, Tansania

Greetings back to you! We did receive the money into our account, and are very very happy and grateful that we can help our staff this way. Life is getting harder every day and more and more people live in poverty. It is very sad and hard to see. Streets in StoneTown are deserted, people do not have ways of making money to live.

Hope you are all doing good!

Our warmest regards,

Barbara, Mani, Anneloes

25.5.2020 Allpa / Lima / Peru

We want to share with you how things are going concerning the pandemic in Peru. Our government has dictated an extension of the quarantine until end June. And though this is a very difficult situation for our lives and our work, it may be an important decision in order to control the virus.

Together with this, our sector has been authorized to start operations related to  exports. This allows us to ship delayed orders and we are now trying to catch up with all our customers. This is hard though because the productive chain has been paralysed for more than 2 month and some of our suppliers  and artisans are not working full time. But we will do our best. We will keep you informed about this and we thank you once more for your understanding and patience.

María, Allpa

20.05.2020 Sapia / Bogotá / Kolumbien

We are still on quarantine, and it was extended until May 31. I hope to start working again on June 1st.

About Arquearte, don't worry, please feel free to send me their order; Oscar is already working, and he thinks that he will have the gold available next week.

There is good news to know that you are considering a new order for this workshop! They are passing through difficulties without any income, and your order will help them a lot!

Andrea, Sapia

20.05.2020 Creative Designs / Jaipur / Indien

[T]he lockdown has been extended till May 31st. We are able to work with minimum staff although the factory artisans are not able to come right now as they live in old city area which is a hot zone and no movement is allowed.

Vivek, Creative Designs

15.5.2020 Manjeen / New Delhi / Indien

Greetings!!
Thank you very much for your valued mail and sharing your generous contribution/Donation. We will surely carry the funds to the targeted beneficiaries with an equated fund.

Just today morning we came up with a plan to distribute approx. 1950 INR, of each beneficiary (of which Rs 950 will be spend on a basic Grocery bag and Rs 1000 in Cash). We are sharing some images of what and how we are doing currently, this is just for your information. All the activities are been carried out in assistance of our Artisans Network. The complete fund is being transferred to member artisan and from there on a bulk grocery is being purchased and small packets are been made and put in a bag. The idea is to support the families by providing at least some basic Food, in this hour of uncertainty.

The cash from your contribution will be distributed to meet some other needs like milk or medicine. We are enclosing some images from one of our centre, Pilakhuwa. As a reference. We will move on and spend the fund from our end rather waiting for the fund getting credited to our account. We sincerely thank you very much and CONTIGO Association for this generosity. 

Best regards
Emam

15.5.2020 DHAKHWA / Kathmandu / Nepal
Thank you so much for granted the funds for our workers and thinking about us in this great crisis and zero business. Especially business when all our workers are fully depends upon us and that when there is no production no business , no  income it  been really difficult for our worker. In such difficult time you have come up and helping for us although you are also struggling and you are doing your best to help us and it is highly appreciated. Thank you very much. We will discuss and how and when we will give the money for all our workers and we will give you the details ASAP.

Few days ago,  we have little bit reopening the shops and the govt offices and the bank and some factory but yesterday the authorizes seal off two places in Kathmandu after covid -19 confirmations. There has not been any cases in Kathmandu earlier but since yesterday the cases had rises so today there has been a strict lockdown in the valley . The decision include sealing off the areas where infected individuals were staying and revoking all the existing travel passes. There are open borders in Nepal so in past few days there are people coming from India as well and spreading all the virus. With the weak govt and less safety net . If there are many cases arises here in Nepal then it won’t be able to control . With this crisis I still hope that we will overcome with this soon and we hope and pray for the better world soon. Take care and stay healthy.

Best Wishes,

Namrata Dhakhwa

14.5.2020 Sapia / Bogotá / Kolumbien

About the workshops, Doña Rosa already started to work. Unfortunately, for her and her workers, this situation affected them a lot, and now they need to invoice. They didn't have any income in March or April, and May will be difficult as well, so we are trying to coordinate the pending shipments to generate some income for the workshop.

If you want to send her an order, we can accept it. I think that with the order, we can verify which materials we need and confirm to you the disponibility and estimated shipping date.

The satellites were also very affected, but we could work with them to finish some orders. Your tagua jewellery order is under production right now, and we think it will be ready in about two weeks; and we are waiting for Arquearte, because Oscar was not able to find gold to produce yet, so we still have the [...] order pending.

Regarding the missing hats, they are also delayed. In Sandoná nobody is working yet.

In general, the artisans have been affected by the impossibility to work and generate income. The supply shops were closed, so even though they wanted to work at home, they didn't find any materials.

Sapia was very affected too. We are under unpaid leave from April 11 until May 30th, with a little extra legal bonus to help us, but it has been very difficult for all of us.

We hope to start working again from June 1st.

Andrea, Sapia

14.05.2020 Creative Designs / Jaipur / Indien

We are all okay here. Although there has been a complete lockdown in India for over a month, only last week we have been allowed to work with minimum staff and labor. So currently we have some workers coming and they are working on pending current Orders. On Monday the Government is going to announce a new update on policy so we will know more clearly then.

Vivek, Creative Designs

13.5.2020 Woza Moya / Kwa Zulu Natal / Südafrika

We are all back in the office as we are allowed to make and sell protective masks and a few other things like blankets and some foodstuff like the teas and chocolates. Your order is very much appreciated and we will make a plan to get material to the beaders... [...] The beaders will be most grateful as we haven't been able to buy things from them as there have been no sales with the shops being closed.

9.5.2020 Allpa / Lima / Peru

Due to the expansión of the COVID 19, our Government has established an extension of the quarantine until May 24th. Also the curfew will continue.

Under these conditions, we are trying to use reduced authorized spaces to keep operating, specially to finalize pending shipments. We will try to use these spaces also to catch up on pending orders and product developments, but we know it will be very limited as we will be very cautious in order not to risk our health and that of our collaborators and artisans.

We thank you in advance for your flexibility.

Keep safe and stay home.

Maria del Carmen, Allpa

8.5.2020 Hari Gautam / Kathmandu / Nepal

Namaste,

Bis jetzt sind wir safe !!!!! Heute 48 tagen, wir unter lock down sind. Unser Lock down ist ganz streng und dürfen unser Haus nicht verlassen. Wir dürfen auch nicht spazieren gehen. In die Stadt ist das Leben sehr schwer in der engen Raum leben zu müssen, deswegen sind unser Silver schmieden in die Dörfer gegangen wo die her kommen. Einige Schmied Produkte ist blockiert und könnte nicht fertig machen. Die alle erste Bestellung und einiges von Zeiten Bestellung habe ich eingepackt und ist bereit. Unser Lockdown ist bis 18 Mai angesagt aber bis jetzt hat die Regierung der lock down Wochen weise verlängert. Indien steigt mit infizierten jeden tag hoch und wir haben offene Grenze mit Indien deswegen, ich glaube der Lock down geht es länger. Bis jetzt ist angesagt dass bis 31 Mai ist International und Inlandsflüge Blockiert. Ich weiss meine Produkte bei euch ist ausgegangen und schrenke im laden können kaum Gautam Handicraft präsentieren. So bald ich info habe mit Neuigkeiten zur erofnung der Flughafen werde ich sofort mit euch melden.

Es ist schön zu lesen, die laden bei euch offen sind. Bleibt safe und alles gute.

Namaste

Hari Gautam

30.4.2020 Vegetaux d`Ailleures / Senegal

Thank you to you and the entire Contigo team. It's really very kind of you, your humanism touches me deeply and comforts me in the sense that we work with people of qualities that you all are. The corona virus will not spare anyone or any company in the world this year.

To date, we have lost all of our customers except 1, you. To tell you how precious the confirmation of your order was to me.However, we have principles, commitments to our staff and especially in these hard times. Our entire workforce is maintained and salaries are paid 100%. Every 30 or 31 wages are paid, so today is pay days.We are frightened and worried about the future if this situation continues but for the moment thanks to our collaboration, we can still ensure the salaries of our team.

Lots of love and peace to all of you
Cordialement / kind Regards
Mme Raguin Volimata,

28.4.2020 Umed Singh / Jaipur / Indien

Auszüge Telefonat mit Amit Batra, sinngemäß übersetzt:

Der Lockdown in Indien wird nicht wie geplant am Montag aufgehoben, die Regierung hat noch nicht bekannt gegeben, wie lange er verlängert wird. Selbst kleine Familienbetriebe dürfen nicht öffnen.

Alle Mitarbeiter von Umed Singh sind nach hause in ihre Dörfer gefahren. Die Produktion wird sich weiter verzögern, da der Lockdown verlängert wird. Die Mitarbeiter werden auch nach Aufhebung des Lockdowns mehrere Tage brauchen, um zurück zur Werkstatt zu kommen.

28.4.2020 MESH / New Delhi / Indien
Newsletter in Auszügen:
Now into our sixth week of lockdown in India …. I am delighted to report that we have no news of Covid 19 infection of any of the artisans in the groups we work with, for that we remain very grateful. Prowess, a women’s self-help group in the hill station of Kodai Kanal has also been working and practicing social distancing. They have been making masks for the local administration which has meant that seven of the women had regular work.

Shanti, who manages the women wrote a desperate plea for payment of bills for goods already sent to MESH as she had not been able to pay salaries for March and the women were struggling financially. With no warning of the lockdown we in MESH had not been able to clear bills for the end of the financial year (31st March) and it has been so frustrating that no one from MESH could get permission to go to the office and effect payments even though we knew that with other family members unable to work, our fair trade payments could mean the difference between families going hungry or not. We have now found a way to do that and as I type, Shanti is in the bank releasing that payment which will bring relief to her women. But they are anxious for the future as their men folk are mostly employed in the tourist industry in some way and even after the end of the lockdown this coming holiday season will be a disaster for the town.Prowess will need orders very desperately in the coming months for the families to withstand this shock.

IN a day or two we will hear to what extent the lockdown will be eased after May 3rd it will shape the way MESH and all our partner producer groups conduct their activities in the coming months.

Thank you for your support and for telling our stories.

Jackes Bonnes, MESH

24.4.2020 Kapula / Bredasdorp / Südafrika
We are going into slow reopening from 1 May. At the moment our main concern is the ceramic work we do for the Tourvest group. They are the people with all the tourist shops around the country, in all the strategic places, Waterfront, Kruger park, International airports, etc. So all in all we have lost half our ceramic business until tourists start returning to South Africa.

Our strategy would be to bring in workers as our business stabilises, not to just start up with 160, finish the work in two months, and have nothing left to do. This is going to be a day to day exercise of evaluation of the situation and adapting accordingly. Luckily the employees not working, will be able to claim from the Unemployment Insurance Fund for the next two months.

André Applegryn, Kapula

23.4.2020 / Feather Touch / Kalkutta / Indien

Well govt have declared that export companies will get license To work from 20th April But this is mainly for the companies out side City jurisdiction. For us we have to apply and to get the convent to operate . we have applied on 19th but still waiting for their approval .

We can start the production with only 20 % people only on getting the Approval . We are praying to get the permission soon so that we could Start the production .

Vivek, Feather Touch

21.4.2020 Papital / Teheran / Iran

Well in Iran also this week the government has relaxed the quarantine restrictions, somehow copping Germany. So most stores and businesses have reopened, except for Barber shops, gyms, sport events, concerts, restaurants, the holy places etc.

Financially this crisis continues to have a large-scale impact on the Iranian economy, and naturally the burden is much harder on the poorest section of population. Seasonal workers, small shop owners, undocumented workers, single mothers and the unemployed. A majority of construction jobs in Iran is done by seasonal workers, or undocumented immigrants (usually Afghans) working without a contract, which makes them much more vulnerable when suddenly all businesses stop.

Like the financial package that the Bundestag passed for small businesses, the Iranian government also pledged to pay every Family a Loan, in total of 60 Euros, with 3 year payback and 12% interest rate! There were heartbreaking photos of hundreds of people standing in lines to apply for this loan. That shows how bad it is for millions of people right now.

As for US. embargo, not much has changed. The government has applied for an emergency 5 Billion $ loan from IMF, which the US has blocked so far. Also the current oil price crisis does not help their efforts to sell oil in the Black Market. So all economic analysis that I have seen in the past few weeks, predict another year of major recession and inflation rate of over 40% in the next 12 months.

As for Papital Gallery, luckily most of our producers work from home, so the quarantine did not have any effect on the production itself. But since all shopping centers were closed for the past few weeks, Saeed could not buy the material we need for the order we are making now. So that caused some delay. But now the stores are open and the production has resumed.

Anyway, I hope this global challenge will result in changing of state policies and approach towards biological threats. Specially by strengthening of international solidarity to the vulnerable populations everywhere, regardless of any geo-political rivalries. I was personally consumed by thinking about what might be the reality of this disease for people of North Korea, and how much more they have to suffer without anyone even knowing.

The day that the world can come to separation of political issues from humanitarian crises, that will be the day we can call ourselves truly mature and civilized.

Yunes, Papital

18.4.2020 MESH / New Delhi / Indien

Narayan and his wife, Jaishree from Bharat Mata Kusht Ashram, a leprosy colony in Faridabad are working on products for MESH from home during the lockdown. Narayan says “We are eating more simply now, rice and roti and more pickles. The Government have given some free grains but I usually earn well from driving an auto rickshaw, now that is not possible at all so we need to be careful. If we could get raw materials we could sew masks because a local medical shop has asked me if I can supply. I help in the kitchen and play with the children more than usual”

Narayan’s father is affected by leprosy and he worked as a weaver in the colony weaving unit and Narayan’s grandma used to do bobbin winding. “I would come home from school, have my lunch and then go off to the weaving shed to see my dad working on the loom. Sometimes I would help my grandma with bobbin winding and gradually I learned all about weaving”

Narayan was a mainstay in the weaving unit for many years until he was offered a job as inhouse weaver in MESH Design studio, a job which he did for about seven years before buying an auto-rickshaw and becoming the “school run” for lots of children in the neighbourhood. He learned how to sew in the studio and works alongside Jaishree supplementing their combined income. Narayan says “I only want to raise and educate my children, one of my daughters was in the middle of writing her 10th standard board exams, she had two exams left when the lockdown was declared now I don’t know what will happen she also has to change schools after 10th standard and I don’t know how applying for a place in another school will proceed.”

Narayan , Jaishree and several other tailors in the leprosy colony practice fairtrade he likes that fair price is important in Fair Trade. On the open market the labour rates for tailors are very poor but in fair trade due consideration is taken to the earnings when fixing prices. Narayan likes lots of the fairtrade products stocked in MESH but he particularly likes the toys and hand-painted products from Kashmir. Narayan says he is normally a bit of joker but during this lockdown it feels “the longer I stay at home the sicker I feel”. These are anxious times. His message for all our fairtrade customers is heartfelt: “Keep giving us work and please carry on this relationship with us”.

Narayan und Jaishree, MESH

“I believe that all of us in Fair Trade will be able to fight this corona virus and its effects together.” Sarita lives in Bharat Mata Kusht Ashram (BMKA) with her husband, two sons and her parents-in-law who are people affected by leprosy. She trained as a tailor and worked for some time in an export company in Faridabad where they live. For the last few years she has been working from home sewing products for MESH. We asked her how daily life had changed during this period of lockdown in India because of corona virus, she said “Due to this situation all our daily routine has changed. We spend more time together and try to do things as a family like exercise, and playing games with the children. My work has been hampered but I did manage to make some masks for local distribution in my colony”

The small number of tailors working from home for MESH in BMKA follow fairtrade principles. Sarita says her favourite principle is transparency and accountability because it “prevents misunderstandings”. Her favourite fairtrade product is the veggie bags which she sews from organic cotton net and which are exported all around the world. But most of all she likes working because “It plays an important role as I am able to bring additional income to home because of which we are able to purchase additional things for house and buy our own house and we have been able to send our child to a good school. Sarita says “I hope that the situation will soon become normal & that we will get back to work so that we can earn. Fair Trade had started initially to help small artisans and workers therefore we hope that post corona pandemic fairtrade will come out with some steps to help the small artisans. I would like to thank all our fairtrade customers. I believe that we shall be able to fight against this corona virus and its effects together.”

Sarita, MESH

16.4.2020 Woza Moya / Kwa Zulu Natal / Südafrika

Things at Woza Moya are really bad following lockdown and we may have to close our doors, after working incredibly hard over the last 18 years to get it to where we are […]

Most of our current orders have been cancelled as businesses have had to cancel their conferences and functions and this has affected our cash flow and orders to crafters. In addition many local customers have also had to cancel events such as weddings, anniversaries etc as many overseas quests were unable to fly out of their countries. As a result, we made much fewer sales than usual prior to the lockdown and as expected, none since our shops have had to close. We have had a few online sales but unfortunately these can only be carried out when things get back to "normal" and the beaders are able to come back in to get their beads and pick up orders.

We have managed to save funds but this will unfortunately only keep us afloat for two months after which will permanent staff who have been with Woza Moya for over a decade, will have to be retrenched and there will be on one to support the 350 permanent beaders who rely on their income from Woza Moya. We are being optimistic and are hoping to extend our survival time from 2 to 4 months at least, by taking pay cuts, reducing the number of days worked and working with less staff. […] As you know, so many of our people both Crafters and Staff are already hand to mouth and are suffering with HIV/AIDs.

16.4.2020 SPB / Bolgatanga, Upper East Region / Ghana

Die Korbproduktion in Bolgatanga geht ohne Probleme. In Accra, Kumasi und Tema sind die Beschränkungen wegen des Coronavirus enorm. Wir passen alle gut auf.

Victor Mainoo, SPB

14.4.2020 Seet Kamal / Jaipur / Indien

On 25th March, 2020 India had to Lock down overnight completely as per government orders as a precautionary measure towards outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. With 1.3 billion people and limited resources it was not easy for the government but still it has helped keeping our infection level as low in

the country.

Now the lockdown, had its own repercussions and daily wages workers started to migrate. We at Seet Kamal could not take it by mere sitting when our country was in turmoil and with the help of a community kitchen we started providing these workers with meals & fruits thereby facilitating distribution of over 8,000 food packets to these workers.

Later, government decided to completely stop people from migrating with all business being lockdown as well. The daily wage workers had no place to go and they were just stuck in their colonies. At Seet Kamal we immediately started a community kitchen at factory also facilitating daily distribution of food to 2000 people and 100 grocery bags which is good for a family of four for a week. We will continue to do this everyday until lockdown. You can follow our Facebook or Instagram  page to see more pictures of

our daily Activity. We Pray to God that we all Emerge out of the Current Situation Strong and

with Good health!

Gautam Nathany, Seet Kamal

13.4.2020 Exportexa / Barranquilla / Kolumbien

In Kolumbien sind wir per Anordnung durch den Präsidenten seit dem 24.März unter Quarantäne, viele Städte des Landes haben dies schon vorher umgesetzt. In Barranquilla wurden schon vor der Quarantäne diverse Öffnungszeiten eingeschränkt, sodass wir die Arbeitszeiten ändern mussten […].

Anfänglich sollte die Quarantäne bis zu, 13. April andauern und wir danach zur Arbeit zurückkehren. Aber sie haben sie bis zum 27. April verlängert, da sich die Zahl der Neuinfektionen erhöht hat. Und von mehr als der Hälfte der Fälle weiß man nicht wirklich, wie sie sich angesteckt haben, deshalb wurde die Quarantäne angeordnet.

Da unser Produkt kein landwirtschaftliches Produkt und auch kein Gut des Grundbedarfs ist, haben wir keine Erlaubnis zu arbeiten. Aber wir wollen eine Erlaubnis beantragen für Exportgüter, denn neben Contigos Bestellung haben wir noch weitere fällige Bestellungen fertig zu stellen.

Dies ist sehr wichtig für uns in diesem Moment, da unser inländischer Verkauf gänzlich zum Erliegen gekommen ist und die einzigen Einnahmen, auf die wir zählen können, auf dem Export beruhen. Denn all unsere Verpflichtungen laufen weiter, ganz so als wenn wir normal arbeiten würden: Stromrechnung, Wasserrechnung, Telefondienst, Gehälter, Zulieferer mit offenen Forderungen uns gegenüber… normalerweise bezahlen wir diese mit den Einnahmen aus dem nationalen Verkäufen. Deshalb wollen wir uns in diesem Moment darauf konzentrieren die Arbeits- und Exporterlaubnis zu bekommen.

Dieses Jahr wird es eine Verspätung bei der Lieferung an Contigo geben, aber noch kann ich nicht mit Sicherheit sagen, um wie lange. Mit dieser Situation haben wir nicht gerechnet und hoffen nur, dass sich die Lage in Kolumbien nicht noch weiter verschlechtert und die Menschen zumindest bald wieder zur Arbeit gehen können.

Momentan dürfen Kinder und Menschen über 70 nicht nach draußen, bis zum 30. April. Der Schulunterricht wird seit einem Monat online abgehalten. Wir hoffen nur darauf, bald zur Arbeit zurückkehren zu können und diese Erlaubnis auch für unsere Zulieferer zu erhalten. […]

Zaide, Exportexa

9.4.2020 Allpa / Lima / Peru

Dear Friends,

Hoping that you and your families are keeping healthy in these hard times, we want to share with you the last news from Peru: our government has decided to extend the quarantine for 2 more weeks until April 26th.

These are being very difficult decisions for the whole country, as the economy is being paralysed, but we feel they are necessary to control the expansion of the virus. Our artisans are healthy so far and we want to keep it that way, giving them all the necessary support.

Therefore we appeal to your patience and comprehension for any delays this measure may cause to your orders.

We share with you also some new pictures received from our producers.

With warm regards, stay healthy and safe,

The Allpa Team

9.4.2020 Shine / Cebu / Philippinen

At the moment the whole island is under lockdown until further notice from the government. All our people are working at home, however we cannot go there and they cannot come to our place. There is a general curfew for everyone. All parts of the city have military checkpoints and only persons with special permits are allowed to pass. We will keep you updated as soon as we know when its possible to start packing and prepare the shipment.

We wish you a healthy Easter holiday

Bernd Schwalbach, Shine

8.4.2020 MESH / New Delhi / Indien

Dear Friends,

Forgive me for sending this as a general general letter to you all.

Status of the Lockdown in India

We are all still locked down in India,allowed out only for essential shopping in the immediate neighbourhood. At the moment the lockdown is until 14th April but it is very likely that in some areas of the country the lockdown will be extended and everywhere else partial lock downs may continue; decisions are being made now. Mostly people are trying to comply with the lockdown which must be very difficult in the confines of the small homes but everyone knows this is serious and is trying to comply. We have been in touch with a number of our producer groups and have some stories to share.  

Food supplies

In Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh (A.P.) the state governments have been delivering free rice and lentils to people on a low income and in A.P. fresh vegetables too.  These are surely a great relief to everyone. In Little Flower Leprosy Colony, the healthier men and women are working to package and supply donated dry foodstuffs to other leprosy colonies in their region. Family incomes have fallen to zero for many people because all work has had to close down.Very many people in India do not receive a salary, they are paid for the work they do or by the day and so when there is no work there is no income.  

Numbers of confirmed cases are still very low as not much testing is being done in India, because of the vast size of the population. The key strategy seems to be to reduce the chance of spreading the disease and so once lockdowns are ended masks will play a very important role in acting as a barrier to spread.

Mask Making in MESH groups

We are very glad to report that a number of the producer groups that supply MESH have started making reusable masks from several layers of cotton fabric.

Prowess, a womens self help group in Kodai Kanal, Tamil Nadu has a permit from the government to stitch masks and has an order for 50,000 pieces which they are working on now. A limited number of women are working in the sewing unit.

Jone Pryadarshini Mahila Mandal (JPMM),a women's society in Bethany Leprosy Colony has been making masks for the colony people.  They gifted some to local nurses and have now been approached by the police in that area to provide masks for them. The women are working from home.

Little Flower Khadi Village Industries Leprosy Rehabilitation Centre, has in stock, about 5,000 meters of handwoven cotton cloth suitable for masks and they too have been making masks for their own colony members and local sales.  They are now contacting larger organisations to see if they can supply to them and want to make for neighbouring leprosy colonies.The tailors are working from home.

PAGIR, an organisation of people with disabilities in Leh, very,very high in the Himalayas,( it seems no place is safe from this virus, there have been 14 confirmed cases there so far)  The main tailor has been shown how to make masks and will teach others

These groups of women, skilled and practiced from years of making products to order for MESH,are able now to use their skills to serve the nation in this crisis.

Jackey Bonney, MESH

7.4.2020 Shirbandi / Kathmandu / Nepal
Nepal is still under lockdown. Today, the government has extended the lockdown until the 15th of April. We have not been able to work since the lockdown began. We are also not able to go to Sunakothi or bring the goods back to Sitapaila as all vehicular movements are still restricted.I feel sorry about not being able to ship out the goods in time.Hope this stressful situation in the world will end soon.

Sangita Shresta, Shirbandi

6.4.2020 Chako / Stonetown, Sansibar / Tansania

The current situation in Zanzibar is that foreigners are not allowed to enter anymore, and all domestic travellers are checked for the virus, and quarantined upon suspicion of being in contact with anyone who has been infected or quarantined.

There are 5 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 324 people in quarantine as a precaution for being in (very brief) contact with one of these 5 people.

Second measurement is that Government offices have sent a lot of their personnel on standby, and have decreased the amount of people in the office.

Chako has followed this action, but we have split our team, meaning 50% of the staff works 1 day, and then stays home for 1 day, the other 50% will work the other day, to make sure everyone can keep safe distance, social distance, and all can remain working and earning income.

[...] We have trained all our staff, and give a daily update about Corona in Zanzibar. We have trained them for the workplace, but also for their families and communities. The information given by the Government is also followed in Zanzibar, and everyone is acting on hygiene, though social distancing is for some situations and communities very hard to achieve.

Our other concern is the lack of income for the whole of the island, there is currently no tourism, and 98% of all hotels and resorts are closed. 99% of all bars and restaurants have been ordered to close, which means that approximately 50-70% of the Zanzibar community will not have any income.

We have to remain strong, and safe, and continue to work as good as we can in these circumstances.

Thank you for the good news about the wood machine, we are so very happy to hear this and it brings a big smile and positivity to the whole team. So, on behalf of everyone at Chako, Mani and Anneloes a huge thank you!

Barbara Lexmond, Chako

1.4.2020 Craft Beauty / Hanoi / Vietnam

Since today, national-scale social distance is applied in Vietnam, which restricts people from leaving their homes and bans gatherings of more than two people in public for 15 days.

All service, shops, markets are closed except essential goods like food, medical, mask, water ...

Lockdown order has not yet been imposed but we will be prepared if any.

1.4.2020 Santir Silpa / South Pansila, Kolkata / Indien

It is right, very difficult days are now prevailing in our country due to total lock-down by Government. But in our locality no case of CAVUD-19 found and all of us living with good health in their respective home. But, everything is closed including all types of transport. Only grocery. medical shop,vegetable market and some essential items shop is open for four hour including bank.

Our organization was closed since 23rd March 20 as per Government strict restriction. All of our staff. including outside artisans are well in their home. And they will provide full pay as usual. People living below  poverty label get free ration by Government and medical aids. For small business organization still now no such relief announce by Government.

Mr. Chatterjee, Santir Silpa

1.4.2020 MESH / New Delhi / Indien

We are completely lockdown and all our artisans are not working. It is a very difficult situation and we don't know how the future is going to be.

Artisans are looking for financial and other aids. But there is no way we can reach them. Once the lockdown period is over we can do some help. It will be good if you can extend your support.

Mathew, MESH

1.4.2020 Nook Nook/ VEVA Chiang Mai / Thailand

Since both of our factories are temporarily closed I help my uncle with the charity project. He has many sewing staffs so we are making the masks to give to hospitals. In Thailand, unfortunately, there are a lot of corruptions. So masks, hand washing alcohol and other medical supplies are very difficult to find.

We start the project of making the fabric masks and give to hospitals for free. Then we make the face shield from plastic. Kind of double protections.

Now I got many contacts from many hospitals to make many things. Today doctor came to see us and want us to modify the raincoat into the special suits for doctors.

Saipin, Nook Nook

31.3.2020 Hari Gautam / Kathmandu / Nepal

Wir alle Nepali sitzen seit 8 Tagen unter Lockdown !! Und zu Hause!! Wir dürfen nicht raus von Haus. Es ist total Chaos und ich weiss nicht, wie wir die Welt und den ganzen Flugverkehr geregelt bekommen. Die meisten Leute, die aus den Dörfern in Kathmandu arbeiten, sind  zurück zum Dorf gefahren. Das Leben in der Stadt ist schwer.

Hari Gautam

31.3.2020 Craft Beauty / Hanoi / Vietnam

Regarding pandemic, the situation is spreading faster now from a hospital in center of Hanoi with several thousands doctors, nurses and patients quarantined and tested.

There are more than 200 cases now but predict increasing much more and peaking in the two weeks so today, the government has just announced everybody stay home, only essential services are open in the whole country. It will be valid since 0h April 1st.

No bus between provinces, no transportation, all markets are closed.

We have produced items from material in stock now

Hoai, Craft Beauty.

30.03.2020 Afrikiko / Tabaka / Kenia

Ihr fragt Euch bestimmt, wie es uns und Afrikiko in dieser Zeit so ergeht! Wie geht es den Menschen in Kenia, gibt es das Virus in Kenia, konnten Schutzmaßnahmen getroffen werden?? Ja, das Virus ist auch in Kenia angelangt. Momentan gibt es 48 bestätigte Fälle und 1500 Menschen, bei denen man einen Kontakt zu einem der positiv erkrankten Menschen feststellen konnte, sitzen in Quarantäne. Jetzt werdet ihr sagen: 48 Fälle, na, das ist ja locker, da haben die Kenianer noch Glück, wir haben hier schon mehr als 60.000 Fälle! Glück haben die Kenianer leider nicht, denn von mehreren dieser Fälle weiß man, dass sie im ganzen Land unterwegs waren, unzählige Kontakte hatten und wahrscheinlich sehr viele Menschen angesteckt haben. Ein italienischer Priester reiste zum Beispiel durchs ganze Land, hat Messen gehalten, mit sehr vielen Menschen gesprochen, später stellte man fest: er ist Corona positiv.

Niemand weiß, wie viele Corona Tests es in Kenia überhaupt gibt. In den Zeitungen findet man nichts darüber! Was man weiß ist, dass es in Nairobi 123 Betten für Corona Fälle gibt, in ganz Kenia 500 Beatmungsgeräte (geschätzt) und nun hat die Regierung dazu aufgerufen, dass Krankenhäuser außerhalb Nairobis Betten für Corona Kranke bereitstellen sollen. Nur: wie soll das gehen? Auch ohne Corona Kranke platzen die Krankenhäuser aus allen Nähten und woher sollen die Krankenhäuser das Geld für Betten, Pfleger etc. nehmen??

Die Regierung hat nun ein Ausgehverbot für die Zeit zwischen 19.00 abends und 5.00 morgens verhängt. Wie meine Schwägerin Nancy mir schrieb, wurde das anfangs natürlich nicht eingehalten, aber das war/ist ja hier genauso. Sie schrieb, dass auch sehr gut ausgebildete Kenianer argumentieren, dass Kenianer dieses Virus einfach nicht bekommen könnten und fragte: „woher kommen diese Idioten? Vom Mars oder von der Venus? Lesen die denn keine Nachrichten??“

Außerdem hat die Regierung die Mehrwertsteuer von 16 auf 14% gesenkt, die unteren Gehaltsgruppen müssen keine Steuern mehr bezahlen, die Kreditzinsen wurden gesenkt, Geld soll aufgebracht werden, um bedürftige ALTE Menschen zu versorgen.... das alles ist, immerhin, ein Anfang.

Die Sammeltaxis, die im Normalfall 14 Menschen transportieren, dürfen nur noch 8 Passagiere mitnehmen und Muthoni erzählte mir, dass das gut funktioniert und man sogar bei vielen Sammeltaxis, bevor man einsteigt, Wasser und Seife bekommt, um sich die Hände zu waschen. Überhaupt: Wasser und Seife! Die kenianische Regierung hat von der Weltbank 60 Millionen US Dollar bekommen, um die Corona Krise besser bewältigen zu können. Jetzt fragt sich die besorgte Bevölkerung: wie wird dieses Geld ausgegeben? Sinnvoll oder nicht, verschwindet ein Teil dieses Geldes in Taschen dubioser Politiker oder „Geschäftsleuten“? 

Eine Maßnahme, gut gedacht (wie ich finde) hat leider so gar nicht funktioniert! Überall in Nairobi wurden Wasserleitungen – mit NEUEN WASSERHÄHNEN - zur Verfügung gestellt, inklusive Seife, damit sich die Bevölkerung auch die Hände waschen kann. Leider wurden alle diese Wasserhähne über Nacht abgebaut und die Seifen sind auch verschwunden. Auf meine Frage: „ja kann sich nicht jeder Mensch selbst Seife kaufen und diese mit sich tragen?“, meinte Muthoni nur: „viele Menschen haben nicht mal genügend Geld, um sich Lebensmittel zu kaufen, wie sollen die an das Geld für Seife kommen??“

Ein großes Problem sind die Slums in Nairobi. Dort leben die Menschen dicht gedrängt, es gibt keine funktionierende Wasser -und/oder Abwasserversorgung. Seife ist ein Luxusgut. Angeblich leben 60% der Bevölkerung Nairobis in einem Slum, das sind rund 1,5 bis 2 Millionen Menschen. Sie arbeiten als Tagelöhner von Tag zu Tag, ohne finanzielle Reserven. Sie MÜSSEN also täglich rausgehen und nach einem Job suchen, denn so etwas wie Sozialhilfe, so etwas gibt es nicht in Kenia. Wie können sich diese  

Nun aber zu Afrikiko! Wie geht es uns? Wie geht es unserer Firma, wie geht es unseren Leuten??

Wir hatten noch Geld Außenstände! Ein Kunde nach dem anderen schrieb uns, er könne, wegen des Virus, nicht bezahlen. So hat ein Kunde unsere Ware schon seit Januar und nun kann er seine Rechnung über 12.000 USD nicht begleichen. Das gleiche Schicksal ereilte uns aus Australien, aus Deutschland – im Grunde meldeten sich ALLE Kunden!

Die dicken Aufträge des amerikanischen Kunden wurden (teil)storniert (mit dem ersten Container sind wir schon fast fertig – Wert: 40.000 USD). Diese drei Aufträge sollen wir allerdings nach der Corona Krise wieder bekommen, darum teil storniert. Hm... eine sehr, sehr beängstigende Situation.

Wir haben noch ein wenig Geld und Contigo hat bestellt und angezahlt. Die Produktion geht also weiter, und noch können wir alle unsere Angestellten (inzwischen 46) und auch unsere Produzenten, die nach gelieferten Stückzahlen bezahlt werden, bezahlen. Aber wie lange noch?? Ich weiß das nicht. Ich weiß es einfach nicht und das beschert mir schlaflose Nächte.Dagmar Schwarz, Afrikiko

30.03.2020 Exporsal / San Salvador / El Salvador

We are in quarantine and Will for 30 days. Nevertheless, we are doing home office like you and because of the nature of the business, we cannot stop working. At the moment we come from time to time and as of this week, we will be divided in two groups of 8 and will work two days a the week.

We have received some order cancellations; others have put them on hold. Of course we are worried because it is high season and we need orders. So far, the people at EXPORSAL will keep the same salary until end of April; while Chief of Artisans will receive a small amount of money to buy basic food and cleaning aids for the month, until May. Why? the president does not want them to work, but private companies have to find a way to subsidize  After April, I do not know how we will survive.

All shops and malls must remain closed, except supermarkets, pharmacies, companies that produce food, medicines, gas stations. For us, EXPORSAL, it is not possible to sell through the internet, impossible. The Government charges $24 per shipment, just to get papers authorized.

Most of the micro and small businesses, specially those that owe money to Banks, or that are starters, may disappear. About 20% end of this month. We are really worried for what it means. At the end, I believe that this crisis will hurt the economy and ours is too weak. In the meantime, the government is not accepting the cooperation of the private Enterprise, institutions, Churches, universities, etc. The bureaucrats just keep on fighting with each other and the government, with everyone else that does not agree with them. It is a chaos!  

We do appreciate the order. As mentioned to Claudia the day we received it, we were REALLY thankful, I wanted to cry, since I was impacted deeply, thank you!

Please keep safe and healthy. Our Blessings to you, the family and the colleagues at Contigo.

Best regards, Elena

27.03.2020 Chako / Stone Town, Sansibar / Tansania

As for the current situation in Zanzibar: The Government has closed almost all airports for tourism. It will be an incredible impact for the local economy, but the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The port has stated all work will be continued, but air freight will be challenging. Less flights, and higher prices.

We do not worry at this moment for any shipments, and can still get our supplies to be able to work.

We are continuing strong, and are already social distancing at the workplace. We gave training in health and social hygiene and everyone respects this and each other's space. I will keep you updated on the situation, and we hope for the best in Zanzibar and hope COVID will come to a stop soon in Europe.

Barbara Lexmond, Chako

27.03.2020 Calypso / Santiago de Chile / Chile

Nice to receive your email ! Feels good and motivate us for a hope. We have shelter in home restrictions, none can come to the workshop.

Marcela Cofré

26.3.2020 Craft Beauty / Hanoi / Vietnam

We have already faced cancel order, reduction on underway order. We have had continuous meeting for the artisans to understand the current situation, work limitation ...Also lockdown at any time.

Solidarity, Effectiveness, and positive attitude are crucial at the moment.

Hoai & Diep, Craft Beauty

26.3.2020 Asango / Nairobi / Kenia

Yes the government is controlling people's movements and gatherings to contain the spread of the virus. We believe it will work.

We are praying that a breakthrough is coming soon for vaccine and treatment and everything will be back to normal. Otherwise so far we do not have a total Lockdown as we see in other cities around the world.

William and Sophie, Asango

25.3.2020 Afrikiko / Tabaka / Kenia

Deutschland wartet ja auf bestellte Atemschutzmasken, die eigentlich am Freitag hier ankommen sollten. Tja, und wo sind sie nun? Angekommen jedenfalls nicht, sondern in Kenia auf einem Flughafen „verschwunden“ – 6 Millionen Stück. Keiner weiß, wie sie überhaupt da hingelangt sind!!

Produktion: wir produzieren, wie gesagt, noch – es könnte aber sein, dass in Kenia ein kompletter „Lockdown“ stattfinden wird, nur muss sich dann die kenianische Regierung fragen: wie ernähren wir die Bevölkerung, weil ernten geht ja dann auch nicht. Ich melde mich, wie es bei uns weitergeht!!

Dagmar, Afrikiko

25.3.2020 Nook Nook / Chiang Mai / Thailand

It's me again.... I forget to tell you that if you can help, we need only 4000 - 5000 USD just to get through this difficult period. Not much... For next month, we will get some help from the bank and some government program. It takes time to get help from the government but we will try.

Saipin and Ying, Veva, Nook Nook

25.3.2020 Seet Kamal / Jaipur / Indien

Monika Mobil: Hi Monika thank you for your Concern , our Seet Kamal team is our Family  we are full in control , government has lockdown for 21 days , we will be releasing every bodies full salaries of March with in 3-4 days which we usually do by 7 of next month , plus we have made small Whats app group Production unit wise which will be in contact with their team and if any body has any emergence or need help will contact the group group heads are reporting to me and we will do best we can do for our team.

Gautam Nathany, Seet Kamal

25.03.2020 Papital / Tehran / Iran

Regarding Papital, yes it has not affected our production very much, since it is mostly done at home. So unlike many other similar small businesses in Iran which are struggling at the moment, we were able to keep our regular payments on time, and paid an annual bonus to all our producers last week, in addition to a 20% wage increase for this year.

We also feel very lucky that so far no one from Papital family have been affected by this virus, we all try to stay home as much as possible to keep it this way. Saeed also does most material purchases over the phone to avoid going to market.

I was also wondering if Contigo shops will have to close down. I Hope it becomes safe again for your colleagues and customers to open up soon.

Should it be possible to arrange for the next order within April (considering our production time) it would be great for us to keep the workflow to our producers?

Anyway I also hope very soon we all think of this period as a sad memory.

Yunes, Papital

24.03.2020 Allwomenrecycling / Kapstadt / Südafrika

We push through as best we can. I educate my ladies on hygiene, sanitation etc. give them masks. We are working until the last day. We pray that this isolation will be upheld in the townships. But due to no work crime will escalate. Looting. Army is called to lockdown areas. My girls are not looking forward to it.

We cannot at this time get the orders to clients, as we have been forced to close Thursday for 21 days lockdown. Yes I'm worried about my ladies. I will try very hard to make sure that they will be ok. But it will affect us all. We have no new orders on the floor as yet, so we will see what happens around the world, no one has cancelled orders. We have the most amazing customers.

Lynn, Allwomenrecycling

24.03.2020 Artisan Well / Kalkutta / Indien

All over India is lockdown till 15th f April. People may be will not die by Corona but will die without food. Let us hope for the best.  Nobody is allowed to go out. Our staff and producer may be can manage 21 days by themselves. But I am worried about the daily wages people. I do not know, how they will survive.

Kousic Bhattacharjee, Artisan Well

24.03.2020 Sapia / Bogotá / Kolumbien

Now we are under mandatory lockdown until April 13th, but it seems that it will be longer than that.

Andrea, Sapia

23.03.2020 Calypso / Santiago de Chile / Chile

… the virus crisis is hitting everyone, even here in Chile more because our internal social crisis!!

We all have to care each other 🤗

How is the panorama in Germany? are the school open? Here Samuel the youngest son is at home or 15 days , he has to return at this moment next March 30.

When the stores will reopen? I am afraid for all the complication that small business we will have.

Here we are working on our workshop as it is our home too!.

Praying all the recovery come soon!

Marcela, Calypso

23.03.2020 Shirbandi / Kathmandu / Nepal

Namaste!

Here, we have many problems. From tomorrow all the offices, workshops, shops are going to be closed for one week. We could not even take out our vehicles or walk on the road. In this case, we could not accept this order right now. We will send you the order confirmation as soon as everything is fine. We are also not able to complete the current order by the end of March. We need few more days as we are going through a lot of stress. We are very sorry to inform you this.

How is the situation in Germany? I heard that there are also a lot of problems there.

Sangita Shrestha, Shirbandi

23.03.2020 Toucan / Ghitorni im Südwesten von Neu-Delhi / Indien

Kindly note Delhi has been placed under Lockdown between March 23rd to March 31st  due to amid Corona virus outbreak. We will keep you posted further.

Christina, Toucan Krafte

23.03.2020 Arum Dalu / Denpasar, Bali / Indonesien

We are as well having closed down until end of the month.

Yes, understand that the QC will take longer time in this difficult situation, no problem.

Hoping that all are well at Contigo and we'll see & speak again hopefully in better uplifting world mood & great spirit.

Nawangsari Setyowati, Arum Dalu

23.03.2020 Feather Touch / Kalkutta / Indien

Situation has started worsening in India .

Yesterday, 22.march 2020 government announced self imposed curfew whole day.

today things are open till 5 PM and after that our bengal government has imposed a shut down for 1 week.

We are working from home but actually there is not much work to be done from home in our industry.

We at Feather Touch have given paid leave to all the staff for the whole week. Government will not pay anything . We hope things would get better after this week.

Vivek Chowdhury, Feather Touch

20.3.2020 Craft Beauty / Hanoi / Vietnam

Regarding Corona virus, we think our authorities and people have controlled well and fully aware to prevent spreading as much as possible because we are next to China and afraid on hospital capacity overload if outbreaking. 16 people injected came back to Vietnam from Chinese new year end of Jan recovered. and in 3 weeks, no more. However, early March, one Vietnamese lady flied from Europe back but not declared honestly, leading spreading some and almost all other cases from different parts of the worlds, going up to 85 people in 3 weeks. People from other countries and related directly to the ones positive will be tested right away or indirect quarantined in 14 days. But there will be approx 10,000 Vietnamese abroad back to Vietnam next week, which huge challenge, chaos and high risks to Hanoi so the government has warned and called for everybody give a helping hand together.

Children, students have not come back to schools yet in one month and a half and study online now.

They share the good ways to protect everywhere so everybody will know well and do the right thing. 

We know it will be really hard at the moment. For us, we still struggle to get material in stock and manage with work for our artisans.

Hope things will be better soon and we will go through this together.

All the best from our team to Contigo,

Hoai, Craft Beauty

20.3.2020 Nook Nook / Chiang Mai / Thailand

Sorry for the silent. I've been in so many meetings for the past few days. Government announced the country lock down starting tomorrow. So we have to temporary stop working for at least 2 weeks. Only a few staffs can work from home. The rest are more on the sight workers. So we have to manage the on hand orders and distribute work for them to take home. Plus we have to discuss with the social security bureau about what kind of help they can provide. It's been quite messy. But I think it's the same situation all over the world.

As for your toys order, after we have the deposit, we already purchase all the fabrics and distribute work to our suppliers………………

Thank you for taking the supplier help program into your meetings. It will help us survive the situation. In Chiangmai where we depend so much on tourism, most of the business are gone, hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and so on... They mostly out of business. Thailand also has many measurements to help but they are mainly for employees not many for business owner. 

Saipin, Nook Nook

20.3.2020 Santir Silpa / Kalkutta / Indien

Here also,situation is grim. Business establishment office and part of market is close up to 31st March 2020. Hope we shall again open after 1st April-20,if situation improve.

Pray to almighty all of your good health and we shall contract again after resume office.

Mr. Chatterjee, Santir Silpa

20.03.2020  Dhakhwa / Patan, Kathmandu / Nepal

Regarding the latest development in Nepal, on Sunday onward there is a lock down in Nepal as well. For the safety reason ,  we have closed down our workplace for 1 week and we will be working from home. All our workers whatever can are taking the work home….

I hope this virus get over soon and can get the better live for everyone. I think the world needs a rest. We do want cars , planes etc. We as human were not treating our earth properly, maybe it is time to meditate, we will survive but maybe more consciously…..

Namrata Dhakhwa

20.03.2020 Artisan Well / Kalkutta / Indien

Thank you for your mail. We are not keeping our office fully closed. But if any one feel sick we asked not to come to office. Three women of our checking department are absent for this week. Mask and sanitizer is out of stock in Kolkata Market. Some of our staff are using mask that they bought by themselves. 

Kousic Bhattacharjee, Artisan Well

19.3.2020 Shirbandi / Kathmandu / Nepal

The government has begun taking precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. Currently, they have prohibited gatherings of more than 25 people. They have postponed all school exams for now and have also started spreading awareness about different ways to stop the virus from spreading.

The Government has announced, all arrivals from European, West- Asian, Middle Eastern countries, ; Iran, Turkey, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, and those who transit in the above mentioned countries will be prohibited from entering Nepal starting from midnight, 20th of March until April 15th, 2020.

People have presumed, since the number of aircrafts entering Nepal will be reduced there might be difficulties in sending the goods by air shipment. If so, it might be difficult for us to send the goods as well. Please advice.

Sangita Shresta, Shirbandi

19.03.2020 Almeerath / Alexandria / Ägypten

We have all the workshops working normally taking the regular precautions. In the premises here we have like 60% of the people working from home and they just come twice a week to deliver the completed works and take the new task. Everybody is down and stressed and we hear and read a LOT from everywhere, but we are continuing to work. We got some cancellations of orders too, from England and France, sadly, but normal in these unprecedented circumstances.

We have secured tons of beads, luckily. And we need to know if you will be placing an order for the glass or you changed your mind in order to secure the glass material as well.

Hope all the Contigo team are safe and their families too.

Nevine Sobi, Almeerath

19.3.2020 Gautam / Kathmandu / Nepal

Die Erste Bestellung ketten, Armbänder und einige Ohrringen sind fertig und gepackt. Ich kann dir bis heute Abend alle Information schicken. Bitte fragt mal an Spedition ob die noch hinüber bringen können. Einige Fluglinie von Kathmandu sind schon lange durchgestrichen. 

Uns geht so weit gut. Bis jetzt ist noch keine Virusfälle in Nepal gefunden. Wir können gut weiter produzieren. 

Schule sind zu. Man darf keine Großer Versammlung machen. Leute gehen noch normal arbeiten. 

Hari Gautam

18.3.2020 Dhakhwa / Patan, Kathmandu / Nepal

Thank you for your kind email.

Regarding the orders, we have you as very genuine customers and that you will not cancel the order.  ……..We have one shipment from yours which is planned for the end of May. Thank you !!

By the end of the March we will finish the order as we have produced already and all the goods are in our work place already..I have heard that next week there will be also lock down in Nepal. However we keep them all the boxes packed and ready and can deliver to the agent whenever it opens. Thank you !! 

We hope everything goes right with this world . 

Namrata Dhakhwa

18.03.2020 Toucan / Ghitorni im Südwesten von Neu-Delhi / Indien   

This is to inform you that due to the ongoing CORONA VIRUS our government has requested to close down work for the next 2 weeks.  

It is in best interest for our workers and we shall be following the same as our social responsibility. We have issued as much raw material to the women as possible so that they can carry on working from home. Our senior staff will be checking mail everyday incase you need to reach out.

18.03.2020 Artisan Well / Kalkutta / Indien

We do not have any plan to stop our work at this moment but the situation is very crucial. It is our good luck that nobody in our organisation is affected. I heard that maybe some days the tannery will remain close. We have Tan Crunch leather in stock. So we hope production of your order will not be stopped. We have already placed order for fittings and asked them to deliver as early as possible. We are also trying to keep lining in stock as well.

The bottom line is we do not have any plan to stop production at this moment. If there is any circular from our Government comes then different.

Kousic Bhattacharjee, Artisan Well

18.3.2020 Seet Kamal / Jaipur / Indien

In Jaipur all companies are opened only schools are closed.

So far no instruction from govt. for closing it.

Gautam Nathany, Seet Kamal

18.03.2020 Feather Touch / Kalkutta / Indien

No, in Kolkata everything is working. all staffs , today when i was coming road was full of cars and there was traffic Jam.

Actually in Delhi position is worst than any other place.

In Kolkata we have just 1 confirmed case yesterday a 25 years old man who came from England.

i do not know what will happen in 1 month .

today i started producing a highly protected mask for all staffs ....around 60-70  pcs , everybody has to use it including myself as precaution. even my tannery is working ..

of course some companies are closed but that is also because they do not have enough work or no orders..

I got a call today from a staff from Delhi asking to work with us as his previous company does not have any orders ..

Vivek Chowdhury, Feather Touch

18.3.2020 SAPIA / Bogotá / Kolumbien

In Bogota we are on the yellow alert; the atmosphere is strange; it seems like a movie! Everyone has a mask shopping at the supermarkets for a possible curfew this weekend.  Schools and universities are closed, and all the public events were cancelled.

In Sapia we are working from home since last Thursday.

Well, In Bogotá is the same! Schools, kindergartens, universities, shops, everything is closed! The supermarkets are full of people who are shopping to be prepared for a total lockdown this weekend. Everybody with a mask and gloves, it seems like a movie, all is very strange!

Andrea, Sapia

18.3.2020 Exporsal / San Salvador / El Salvador

Gesegnet sei Gott für diese Bestellung!

Was kann ich sagen, außer tausendundeinen Dank! Die Handwerker werden sich in dieser Zeit sehr freuen, dass sie fast nur von der Krise und damit nur von schlechten Nachrichten hören.

Meinen aufrichtigen Dank an CONTIGO, Monika, und alle anderen.

Elena, Exporsal

17.03.2020  Kapula / Bredastorp / Südafrika (telefonisch)

Kapula beliefert mit seinen Kerzen und seiner Keramik zum großen Teil den einheimischen Markt, vor allem den touristischen Bereich. Da keine Touristen mehr kommen, springen wichtige Kunden ab, u.a. Tigers Eye, Woolworth, Tourvest …  

Ab Freitag, d. 17.3. wird ab Mitternacht alles genauso heruntergefahren wie in Deutschland. Zusätzlich: alle Firmen, Betriebe und Fabriken werden geschlossen.

17.03.2020 KILUS / Ugong, Pasig City / Philippinen        

Yes, we will get through this. We're doing our best to cooperate with the government and its efforts and for most of us, that means working from home. A huge portion of the country is now under enhanced community quarantine and while it seems extreme to some, it's what's necessary to prevent the spread of the virus.

Praying with and for the entire world that the virus stops spreading and that we find a cure for it so that things will go back to normal.

Marichris, KILUS

16.3.2020 Papital / Theheran / Iran

As the virus has spread through Iran, almost all international flights to Europe are stopped. A few that remain, can only transfer international citizen’s not Iranians. So the airlines have reduces their flights to cope with lack of passengers.

To make it more complicated, from Thursday the Iranian new year holidays start, which will be extended this year. As already many of the governments offices are closing down early this week, we were worried that if not shipped immediately, this order might remain for at least a couple of weeks in Iran, maybe longer depending on the Corona status.

However luckily it was sent in the last minute. As the forwarder told me the customs office will not be open tomorrow, so basically this order is officially the last air freight package sent from Iran in this year 😅(Iranian year!).

Since Qatar Airways is the only airline that has a flight to Frankfurt at the moment, naturally they hiked up their cargo charge (possibly to compensate for lack of passengers). Compare the AWB from this order and the last order in attachment. While the cargo weight is under 45KG and should cost the same, considering historic low fuel prices, they have almost doubled the cost this time to 400 USD.

Anyway, I sincerely hope this situation changes within a month or two and regular flights return.

But until then, it seems air freight to Europe from Iran will not be possible.

Yunes, Papital

11.03.2020 Exportexa / Barranquilla / Kolumbien

Hier in Kolumbien gab es schon die ersten Fälle und neun infizierte Personen.

Unsere Produktion ist bisher nicht beeinflusst. Unsere Zulieferer von Rohmaterialien importieren nicht nur aus China, sondern auch aus anderen Ländern. Wenn der eine nicht das hat, was wir brauchen, kaufen wir daher von einem anderen. Zwar gab es ein paar kleine Verzögerungen, aber unsere Produktion ist im Moment nicht beeinflusst.

Den Großteil dessen, was wir für Eure Produktion brauchen, haben wir vorrätig (in Bezug auf das Garn), es gibt nur zwei Farben, die wir nicht haben. Aber unsere Zulieferer hoffen, sie in den ersten Apriltagen zu erhalten.  Das gibt uns noch Zeit, die Produktion, wie vereinbart, bis Ende April abzuschließen. Falls es irgendeine Verspätung geben wird, wird das nur ein, zwei Wochen sein, aber nicht viel mehr als das.

Nach dem, was wir wissen, ist die Situation in China bereits unter Kontrolle und die Firmen sind am Arbeiten und Produzieren, daher fühlen wir uns wirklich nicht vom Corona-Virus beeinträchtigt, bis auf kleine Verspätungen.

Für den Fall, dass das Corona-Virus die Produktion in China beeinflussen wird, sind wir schon erneut im Kontakt mit den Garnlieferanten in der Türkei, die wir schon vor einigen Jahren kontaktiert hatten – wir hatten nur nicht von ihnen gekauft, da der Preis viel höher war. Wir haben auch die Möglichkeit, an Lieferanten aus Indien, Indonesien und anderen Ländern heranzutreten.

Zaide, Exportexa