Fairtrade Fortnight round up

Fairtrade Fortnight Round-up

Despite a snowy start members of the Fairtrade Group managed to join the Farmer’s Market on 20th Feb and with help from the stall holders got the gazebo erected.They served samples of Fairtrade tea and coffee and distributed Fairtrade Fortnight leaflets. It was heartening to enlist new supporters on this day.

The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party on Saturday 27th Feb. in the Baptist Church attracted over 40 visitors. There were entries from all ages for the crazy hat competition, winners included Mollie Rickwood, Christopher, Rebecca and Barbara Childs each received a Fairtrade chocolate bar.Councillor Teresa Edwards, who now represents the council on the Fairtrade Group, attended and was very supportive of the event.Entertainment was provided by Brian Higbee on guitar and Paul Wilson, of the Wren Trust, on accordion. Scones cakes and biscuits, using Fairtrade ingredients where possible,were made by the NVQ Catering group at Okehampton College, many thanks to them for such a professional job. Thanks from the group must  also be extended to Somerfield, Waitrose and Dunn’s of Exbourne for their support.

On Tuesday 2nd March Nicholas Kwame Adjei Gyan from the Kuapa Kokoo Cocoa Growers Co-operative in Ghana paid a visit to Okehampton College where he spoke to two sixth form groups then met with the prospective Parliamentary candidates for the area over lunch, as they were at the college that day. He also met other students informally at a Fairtrade stall which had been organised in the foyer. Nicholas went on to take an assembly at the Primary school, all in all a very busy day for him. The cocoa grower was invited to Devon by the Devon Development Agency and has spoken at a variety of venues across the county.

On Wednesday pupils from Okehampton Primary School took part in a Supermarket Trolley Swoop collecting only Fairtrade items this took place with the kind co-operation of Waitrose.

The campaign group aim is to spread the message that we all have a choice when it comes to purchasing tea, coffee, sugar, bananas, chocolate and now many other products. When we choose Fairtrade our action makes a positive difference to third world producers, their families and even their communities. If you want to know more about our Fairtrade Town Campaign please contact Kate Thompson 01837 82537

kate.-thompson@hotmail.com