Pupils’ campaign to boost profile of Fairtrade products

Mar 24 2008 by Moira Sharkey, South Wales Echo

INSPIRED by Fairtrade Fortnight, pupils at a city primary have launched their own campaign to raise awareness of offering Third World farmers a fair deal.

The youngsters, aged from nine to 11, from Radnor Primary, in Canton, Cardiff, have written letters appealing to people across South Wales to buy Fairtrade products on their next shopping trip and change the lives of people in some of the world’s poorest countries.

Troy Luen and Callum Pritchard
“There are more than 2,500 Fairtrade products and there are 242 Fairtrade towns. Fairtrade is when farmers and producers agree a fair price for their products. Fairtrade was set up in 1992 by CAFOD, Christian aid and Oxfam.

“You can help by changing one or two products on your shopping list to Fairtrade products. By doing this you can make a big difference to farmers in poor countries.”

Tomos Wilson and Joe Mordey
“We have been learning about Fairtrade in school and we know this:

“Fairtrade helps to support farmers and their families in Third World countries when prices drop too low meaning they don’t have enough money. Fairtrade ensures they always get a fair price for their goods. People like us need to help them by buying Fairtrade products. We can buy bananas, sugar, chocolate, or tea just a few of the more than 2,500 products.

“So please help farmers by buying Fairtrade. But you don’t have to buy all the products, just buy one or two.”

Toby Boyce, Ellis Young and Daniel Starkey
“We are writing to you about Fairtrade because we are learning all about it in school. If you don’t know what Fairtrade is, it is an organisation set up to help farmers in Third World countries by making sure they get a fair price for their products. Examples of these products are tea, coffee, sugar, chocolate, bananas and even footballs.

“If you want to help all you need to do is buy just one product by Fairtrade. That small change will make a big difference, to farmers all over the world.”

Chantel Ling and Jessica Murphy
“At Radnor Primary we have been making leaflets about Fairtrade to get our parents to buy Fairtrade products to help the people who need the money. Fairtrade is where farmers from Third World countries grow crops and sell them for a fair price.

“So when you next go shopping why not buy a Fairtrade product?

“You are not just buying Fairtrade products, you’re making someone’s life better. When you buy Whitworth’s Fairtrade sugar you are helping to sustain the livelihood of small sugar growers and families in Malawi.

“You can help buy Fairtrade products because it’s only a few pence more than normal. It may be small change to you but it is a big difference to the farmers and families in Africa.”

Liam Blackburn and Laura Hopkins
“Fairtrade is about helping farmers who produce crops and fruit but don’t get a fair price.

Fairtrade companies make sure farmers get enough money to live. Millions of farmers depend on selling their crops to survive, but when prices drop it can spell disaster. If farmers earn less than it costs to run their farm, they face real hardship.

“Fairtrade means the farmers who grow the cocoa beans that go into chocolate will get paid more money. Fairtrade products include bananas, sugar, chocolate, footballs, coffee, cocoa beans and cheese.”

Vickram Singh and Khalid Ali
“Did you know a little extra would make a big difference in farmer’s lives? If you buy loads of shopping it would not make a difference but buying Fairtrade products will make a difference.

“Here are some examples of Fairtrade; bananas, coffee, sugar and tea, juice and all nice things like chocolate. If you change one product to Fairtrade then you can help hundreds of farmers who are very poor.

“If you change to Fairtrade it will be good for farmers in Africa.”

Olivia Knight and Hannah Abdullah
“We hope you will buy some Fairtrade products to help farmers and families around the world.

“If you buy Fairtrade you are helping small growers and farmers who are poor.

“You can help by visiting www.fairtrade.org.uk to order products, going to your local supermarket and buying some Fairtrade products, telling your family and friends to buy some Fairtrade products.

“Every penny helps. A small change makes a big difference.”

Emilia Caramella and Camron Evans
“Fairtrade is important because farmers get the right amount of money for what they do and they deserve it.

“You can buy Fairtrade bananas, chocolate, tea and coffee and more. Even if you buy one Fairtrade product it will make a big difference to the farmers. If you buy Fairtrade, the farmers will make enough money to support their families.

“A small change from you will make a big difference to them.”

Niamh O'Brien, Lisa Tucker and Emma Clarke
“We have learned that Fairtrade gives farmers in poorer countries a chance to keep growing their crops and get a fair price for their products. There are more than 2,500 Fairtrade products in the UK so there will be plenty to choose from.

“You can help by changing just one of your shopping items and that alone will make a huge difference. If you’re wondering where to get all these fabulous Fairtrade products, you can get them in any supermarket.

“If you buy Fairtrade it will make a small change to you but a big difference to the farmers.”