Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. Fairtrade farmers are required to meet strict environmental standards and training is given on sustainable practices, that help mitigate the effects of climate change. Learning about fair trade is relevant to various aspects of the national curriculum – for example economic trade is part of the curriculum at key stage 2. Fairtrade is also relevant to PSHE KS2 ‘living in the wider world’, business studies at GCSE, AS and A level and to GCSE studies in food preparation and nutrition.
The Suffolk Association of Fairtrade Towns (SAFT) is a voluntary organisation of nine Fairtrade towns, set up in 2016, to promote Fairtrade in Suffolk. At our conference in 2023 we decided our priority for the coming year is to promote Fairtrade to young people, building on our experience of liaison with Suffolk schools, culminating in a live link to our patron Patrick Kaberia, a Fairtrade farmer in Kenya in 2021. Pupils from three Suffolk schools put questions to Patrick and a total of twelve schools joined the link.
You can find an edited video of the session on our website at www.suffolkfairtrade.org.uk, where you will also find links to videos and other educational resources, many of which feature Patrick.
In September 2024 the Fairtrade Foundation, during Fairtrade Fortnight, will be celebrating 30 years of the Fairtrade mark. A number of high-profile national events are planned. In Suffolk we would like to develop, for the occasion, specific pupil-led resources for use in Suffolk schools. To facilitate this we are looking to establish a small team, based on secondary schools in the county, who could carry this project forward. We are purposely not being prescriptive as we feel it is important that students should be at the forefront of developing such resources. SAFT is happy, through our extensive contacts, however, to offer technical and practical assistance.
Participation in this project would contribute towards achieving Fairtrade school award status: Fairtrade School Awards – Fairtrade Schools
If you are interested in taking part in this project please contact Alan Muchal at [email protected] .