The East of England Co-op is inviting primary schools across the region to become “Fairtrade Friendly”.  A free, interactive educational pack was launched in 2005 and it helps teachers and pupils to gain an insight into the benefits Fairtrade can bring to developing countries.

The colourful guide, which has been produced by the Co-op Group*, the UK’s leading supermarket supporter of Fairtrade, and the Co-operative College**, has already proved to be popular with schools in our region and is packed full of information about Fairtrade, and includes a host of ideas for activities and lesson plans in line with curriculum standards across the UK.

These include Fairtrade assemblies and “Fairtrade Fridays”, when an entire day is dedicated to educational games and activities to increase awareness and understanding of Fairtrade, which ensures a fair deal and better working conditions for growers and producers in developing countries, as well as paying a social premium to help fund vital community projects.

The Fairtrade schools pack also includes a CD with additional fun activities, from a quiz to karaoke, and an image library packed with photos and pictures.

It also features “Matthew’s Fairtrade Story”, a short film in which a nine-year-old schoolboy from Salford, Greater Manchester, takes his audience on a storybook journey to Africa to explain the difference between Fairtrade and the harsh realities that can often lie behind “conventional” trade.
 
East of England Co-operative Society are pleased to be supporting this nation-wide initiative and has copies of the pack, which includes a CD, to give away to schools in the region. The Society is already working in both primary and secondary education and the new pack enhances the support it gives to local communities via schools.

Pam Walker, Education Development Officer for the Society, explained: “Fairtrade is close to the hearts of many people and we are very keen to get young people to think about not only their local communities, but also the wider global community and begin to make the links that connect us all. This pack is an ideal way for young people of primary school age to begin to get the knowledge and understanding about how trade affects us all and will, hopefully, encourage those involved to make ethical consumer choices with their local Co-op.”

Pam continued: “The pack is freely available from our Education Centre for schools and teachers who would like to know more.”

For copies of the pack and more information, please telephone:

Pam Walker, Education Development Officer, East of England Co-operative Society
Tel: 01473 280316  Email: p.walker@eastofengland.coop

Notes to editors:

*The Fairtrade pack has been produced by the Co-operative Group for use nationwide.  The Co-op Group is responsible for a wide range of groundbreaking Fairtrade initiatives.

**The Co-operative College provides learning, education, training, consultancy and research for the co-operative, social enterprise and mutual sectors in the UK and internationally, offering tailored workshops and qualifications for members, directors, staff and managers within these sectors.