Vale Primary pupils learn about how Fairtrade works
PUPILS at Vale Primary School got an insight yesterday into how they could help workers in low income countries through buying Fairtrade products.
Fairtrade provides producers with a fairer price and more income to feed their families, send their children to school and cover their farming costs.
Yesterday marked the beginning of Fairtrade Fortnight.
‘We offer the schools an assembly on Fairtrade Fortnight and the need for Fairtrade and encourage children to think about buying Fairtrade, or encouraging their families to do so,’ said Fairtrade Guernsey steering group secretary Hannah Davis.
‘We find that actually children have a really high level of awareness of Fairtrade and a strong sense of fairness and justice, and will often say that we need to do something about this, so it’s always joyful to talk about to children.
‘The message of Fairtrade Fortnight this year is “Be the Change” – the little things we can all do to make the world a better place, buying Fairtrade and encouraging other people to as well.’
More than 5,000 Fairtrade products are on the market.
There is a competition for the 30th anniversary of Fairtrade products hitting the shelves.
Children can design a Fairtrade themed cake, and the top three winners will have their designs put onto a real cake.
The deadline for entries is 23 September.
‘It’s really important for children to know about where their food comes from and how we can support other communities, and that they can make a difference to other communities,’ said Vale assistant headteacher Kate Le Prevost.
‘We’re really lucky in Guernsey and the children are really lucky and they don’t always appreciate that not everyone has the same opportunities, so it’s getting that message out and hopefully they’ll have those conversations with their families.’
A family Fairtrade trail is being held around St Peter Port to find 12 Fairtrade products in participating businesses.
Participants will need to take a note of the letters and make a word for the chance to win a prize from M&S.
