To celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight fairandfunky joined the Leicester Fairtrade Schools Conference to host a creative ‘What’s in Your Wallet’ Workshop with over 60 children.
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 around them; both locally and globally. This workshop focussed on Fairtrade as a way in which each of us can take little steps to change the world.
Throughout the workshop the students were challenged to think about the people behind the products they use and buy every day. Beginning with a focus on chocolate, participants were asked “Where did this bar of chocolate come from?”
With initial suggestions including “shop” and “rainforests!” the students were encouraged to think about all the people along the supply chain of chocolate, considering lots of questions: How does the cocoa bean get from the tree? How does it travel? Where is it made into chocolate? What other ingredients are used?
The students listed many different roles along the supply chain: from cocoa farmers to labellers; from truck drivers to shop keepers. Students were challenged to think about all the people along the supply chain the next time they enjoyed a bar of chocolate! They discussed how it was possible to ensure every one along the supply chain was paid fairly for the work they did, particularly the cocoa farmer right at the beginning of the supply chain. How can we make sure farmers are paid a fair price for the work they do?
Fairtrade guarantees a fair price is paid to farmers. It also pays an added premium to invest in community projects: to build new schools, improve water supplies, invest in school buses, training and education for farmers and their families and more.
Buying a Fairtrade product means the lives of farmers and their communities can be improved and each of us has the power to do just that. Buy Fairtrade and change lives. We can change the world when we shop.
With this in mind the students, and teachers, each made a wallet from a recycled juice carton so that when they go shopping, they can use their wallet and think about the people behind the products as they shop. Each participant placed a Fairtrade sticker inside each wallet – and was asked to look closely at the Fairtrade Mark: “What do you see?” The Fairtrade logo represents the world and the people who live in it. The blue is the sea and sky, the green is the land, and the black is a person with their hand held high. When you see the logo you are reminded to think about the people behind the product.
Congratulations to all the children for taking their own little steps to change the world in a fairandfunky workshop. To book a workshop for your school or event: get in touch!
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