The fairandfunky Fairtrade Conference for Schools
Friday March 4th 2016
A very snowy welcome greeted delegates from schools across Kirklees at the fairandfunky Fairtrade Conference for Schools this year! Seven schools braved the adverse conditions to go ‘Around the World’ to learn about and celebrate Fairtrade.
Four different workshops took delegates ‘Around The World’ –snow stopped play for the afternoon session, but all children took part in three (out of the four) creative workshops.
With Fair Connections, students met Fairis – a Fairtrade frog from Nepal (who was VERY excited by the snow!) Together with his puppet friends, Fairis shared the stories of producers in Nepal learning how Fairtrade has a direct and positive impact on the lives of so many women, men and their families.
Through activities and story-telling children were not only introduced to the Fairtrade mark, but also learnt about the WFTO logo.
Fair Grounds took workshop participants to the Philippines and learnt about families who are members of a fair trade co-operative making recycled newspaper products. Students were able to have a go themselves, creating a recycled newspaper photo frame, gaining an understanding of the skilled work involved and the importance of fair trade and recycling.
In the very popular chocolate workshop from Coeur de Xocolat, students headed to Ghana to discover all about the journey of chocolate from bean to bar, delegates watched a video about life as a cocoa farmer and took part in a chocolate tasting session!
In the fairandfunky ‘Play Fair!’ workshop students met the workers in Pakistan who make Fairtrade footballs. Delegates found out just how difficult it is to make a football and discovered how important Fairtrade is to producer communities.
The conference closed with both certificate, and Fairtrade football presentations, from Conference Champions Stafflex. Brian Stahelin shared his own experiences of life in producer communities and encouraged delegates to continue taking their own little steps to change the world with Fairtrade.
“We’ve absolutely loved the day, it’s been amazing, and so inspiring.” Teachers from St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School.