Gold Star Communities

Six of us from the Timbuktu twinning initiative went down to Cardiff yesterday, for the launch of the Gold Star Communities project at the Senedd.
"There are lovely views when it's not raining," Ann said, from the back seat. Luke and Anna were there from Drover Holidays, looking very smart, and Peter Lloyd the Deputy Mayor, and Chris Armstrong from Haymakers, Ann Brichto and me.
We got into Cardiff Bay at about half past five, and it was still raining. As we hurried along Mermaid Quay, a man in a reflective jacket gave me an umbrella! It was a publicity thing for the Quay, he said - and very welcome!
At the Senedd Chamber, we had to go through the same sort of security check that they have at airports. Ann was already talking to people she knew in the queue. Inside, the Senedd was still sitting - you could see them from above, through a window around the great wooden mushroom shape that came down from the curving wooden ceiling. Peter the Deputy Mayor was impressed with that - "the amount of steaming they must have done to get all those curves right".
We were pleased to see there were sandwiches and other nibbles, and drinks, provided. Five thirty to seven thirty, with an hour and a half drive either side of it is a bit awkward if you want an evening meal.
There was another reception going on downstairs, for Ty Hafran. Rhodri Morgan said that this was the sort of thing that they hoped that the Senedd building would be doing, the Senedd at it's best.
There are five Gold Star Communities - the first of many, Rhodri Morgan hoped, in his speech (in which he spoke in Welsh as well as English). They are all Welsh communities which have twinned, or formed a partnership with, a place in Sub Saharan Africa. Brecon is twinned with Molo in Kenya, Brynycwm with Yirgachette in Ethiopia, Pontypridd with Mbale in Uganda, Crymych with Hlotse in Lesotho, and us, twinned with Timbuktu in Mali. As well as being a celebration of the links, this was an opportunity to meet other people who were doing similar things to us, and the people who had expertise in turning the ambitions into reality. A chap from Oxfam Wales was there, for instance, and a tiny lady from Zambia who called herself a Welsh-African and has started a charity to help empower Zambian women - she gave the speech after Rhodri Morgan, which got the most enthusiastic applause of the evening.
We also have the blessing of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, as we were told by the last speaker of the evening. "The work you're doing in communities in Wales and Africa on the Millennium Development Goals is marvellous. Keep your passion going, and you will change the world!"
Some of the people there already have - one lady was mentioned in relation to a health project that has already saved 1,800 lives.
Somewhat to Chris Armstrong's surprise, the partnership between Haymakers Gallery and the craftsmen of Mohamed's village just outside Timbuktu is seen as "ground breaking". They've sold most of the Touareg jewellery and leather boxes now, and raised £2,000 for the village - "one f ifth of the school!" Chris is going to send a list of items that went well to Mohamed, so that he can bring more, and the village will continue to benefit. Trade, not aid in action.
Music for the evening was from Love Africa, on drums and other percussion instruments - and they were very good.
"Did you notice?" Ann said, as we were leaving. "All the people there are really nice, and right on."
It was still pouring down when we got outside, and all the way home. Anna kept us amused with stories of eating out in Africa, when she and Luke cycled through the continent - the elaborate menus that looked very impressive, until you asked what they actually had (which was rice, usually), and the places that insisted you paid in advance for the meal, because they then had to nip down to the market to buy the ingredients - and the 'salad' that turned out to be rice and marmalade sandwiches!