Minniemcn interviews Katy Potter – Bicycles for Aid Workers in Mozambique and Vital Medication for Children in Uganda

How beads, bikes and birthday cards can save lives, and how a simple fashion item can make a difference to a family in Uganda and medical workers in Mozambique. Minniemcn met and chatted to Katy Potter at a western world eatery far removed from the turbulent world in Africa.

An entwined snakelike cluster of glossy bright beaded necklaces and bracelets met me at the table of an Italian restaurant last Tuesday and sat behind them was a beaming fresh faced lady who hugged me warmly and plonked a Chianti classico in front of me. She knew me only too well.

“How are you, don’t you look well?” Katy exclaimed. I hugged her back and complimented her on her cream jacket, eased ourselves into our chairs in front of the window and clinked our wine glasses in toast to raising another handsome amount of money for the Missionaries. Katy had arranged her crafted beads next to a display of hand-made greetings cards of varying shapes and sizes, all so carefully worked and intricate with detail and colour.

Katy and I met several years ago at a school where we both worked helping out in the after-school-club, and we soon became good friends with our mutual concern for Third World relief and also love of attractive art and crafts. “So, what have you been creating lately Katy? I know you were working on wedding invitations and decoupage cards for the next school fair, how are the beads selling this term at school?” I asked. “Well, you won’t believe this, but we took three carrier bags full in after half-term and were selling them straight out of the bags to the parents and staff, they were selling so fast that I was getting chased by people wanting to place orders for specific friends gifts, but we can’t specify the colour, they just come in whatever, Carol in Uganda can make. That’s the fun of it, no two bead sets are the same, they’re all individual”. Katy was so proud to tell me. I held some of the necklaces and studied the bumble bee stripes and shining links that held each small planet-like ball in place. It was so unusual. “Come on then are you going to let me into the secret of what they’re actually made of. I must have sold dozens of these at the fairs with you and still can’t answer the shoppers question about what they actually are”. Katy’s eyes twinkled.” Not until we’ve done the main course, now what are we having”, she replied, popped on her glasses and studied the menu.

As we ate our way through the early-bird two course menu, our chatter took us to reminisce of days playing football with six-year-olds, being taken out in a scrum of three-year-olds and wet afternoons making robots out of pipe cleaner sand plastic cups.

The staff cleared the table and more wine flowed. “Shall we have a dessert and coffee as a treat?” asked Katy. I chuckled and replied “ I think it’s going to be a wee while longer before you tell me the secret of these beads, Katy, go on then, I’ll have a tiramisu and a black coffee”.

Sumptuous desserts were enjoyed, more laughter and chatter. The restaurant buzzed with happy custom. Daylight became twilight and Katy went on to tell me that she was next going to start knitting jumpers for babies in Africa. “Where do you find the time?” I asked, smiling and shaking my head. To which she replied “Paper”. There was a pause. I looked quizzically at her shining happy face and just simply said “Paper?” She looked up from the square glass plate that hosted the last spoonful of dessert. “Paper, recycled paper - if you look ever so closely, you can see the print on each bead, and then they are lacquered to seal them and strung together.”

So not only were we aiding relief projects in the Third World, but the product produced in the first instance was designed to aid the World’s climate. A double- barrel win/win for a better planet.

THE END OF A NEW BEGINING