The Ceilidh Band in full swing

Thanks very much to everyone who came along to our NLE Ceilidh on 26th May – and from the comments we’ve had back, it seems you enjoyed yourselves!

We are indebted to Stan Reeves for all his hard ‘caller’ work in getting the not-so-natural dancers among us moving in something resembling Scottish dancing – and, together with Vernon Galloway and Alison Reeves on fiddle, and Roy Carbarns on guitar, for driving on the dances with wonderful jigs and reels.

In the interval we were delighted to welcome Jose Miguel and his friends from their flamenco group, who provided suitably Iberian rythms while tired dancers refueled with Spanish Tortilla and Calimocho. Continue reading →

Norma Elena (right) at home in Nicaragua

During Fairtrade Fortnight 2012, Norma Elena Gadea Paivas visited Edinburgh to discuss her experiences as a Nicaraguan coffee producer.

Norma Elena’s whirlwhind trip to Britain was organised jointly by The Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign and Equal Exchange.

A packed itinerary saw Norma shuttling between events in England, Wales and Scotland to raise awareness of coffee producers in Nicaragua, and promote a new Equal Exchange range of coffee grown by women farmers around the world. Continue reading →