All fairandfunky workshops encourage participants to look at the world around them and empower people of all ages with the knowledge that their actions can have a positive impact on the world; both locally and globally. Thanks to a partnership with Suma Wholefoods we’re working with schools to deliver a special workshop all about footballs, to encourage students to think about where their products have come from, and who made them, highlighting the importance of Fairtrade.
The workshop began looking at the Fairtrade mark and working out where the students had see this mark before? They soon discovered that the Fairtrade mark can be found on drinks, chocolate, cereal bars, nuts, t’shirts, cotton wool, and, of course, footballs!
But where do footballs come from? And who made them? Together, we discussed why Fairtrade was important for workers in Pakistan. And also discussed how many people working to make the products we use and the food we eat everyday often can’t afford luxuries such as footballs.
Children all over the world play football, but what do they use? They make their own footballs using rubbish! Students then had a go at making their own football from plastic bags, newspaper and string. They soon discovered how hard it was, and spent time thinking about making real footballs. Did you know over 800 stitches are needed to make just one football?
Students then spent time discussing the number of people who make money out of football: referees, sports shops, football stitches, managers, team coach and players. Animated discussion followed as to how much each of these people earns.
As consumers, we can ask for Fairtrade footballs to be put at the heart of the game to ensure workers are paid a fair price. Fairtrade also pays an added premium to invest in community projects: to build new schools, improve water supplies, provide healthcare, invest in school buses, training and education for workers and their families and more.
Fairtrade guarantees a fair price is paid to workers. It also pays an added premium to invest in community projects: to provide eye clinics for employees, improve water supplies, invest in school and more. Buying a Fairtrade product means the lives of workers and their communities can be improved and each of us has the power to do just that. Buy Fairtrade and change lives.
Thanks to sponsorship from Suma Wholefoods we are able to donate special custom made Bala Sport Fairtrade footballs to each participating school, encouraging students to keep talking about Fairtrade whilst at play and to think about the people who made the footballs.
If your school is based in Kirklees or Calderdale there are opportunities for your school to take part in this workshop – please email helen@fairandfunky.com to find out more.
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