Welcome to Fairtrade Fortnight 2016! 29th February – 13th March Photo: Abir Abdullah Photo GMB Akash

Schools and communities all around the UK will be celebrating and supporting fair trade for the next two weeks. But what’s it all about...? Brainstorm ideas about what fair trade is, what it means, and who it aims to help. Fair trade means better prices, better working conditions and support to develop local communities in some of the world’s poorest countries. You may want to discuss the steps you already take as a school for fair trade, whether it is holding a fair trade tuck shop, selling fair trade snacks in the staffroom, fundraising, etc.

One of the biggest problems for people in poor countries is hunger One of the biggest problems for people in poor countries is hunger. Almost 1 billion people in the world do not have enough food to eat. This is one in every seven people on the entire planet. Pause to ask everyone to reflect quietly on what that really means and how huge the figure is. Photo: Richard Else

Small holder farmers play an important role in the fight against hunger in poor countries. But what is a small holder farmer? (See if anyone can guess first). Small holder farmers are farmers that hold only a small amount of land. They grow enough food for themselves and then sell the surplus to people in their local communities. Often the small holder farmers provide the most food for their communities, so they are very important in the fight against hunger. The farmers with large amounts of land often sell their food to big companies or send it overseas, so local people remain hungry. There are around half a billion smallholder farmers across the world. Photo GMB Akash Photo GMB Akash

Things are not easy for small holder farmers in poor countries Things are not easy for small holder farmers in poor countries. They struggle to access good quality seeds and fertilisers, they are often isolated and can’t access information or technology, they don’t have access to training to help increase their yields/productivity and they struggle to access local markets and get a good price for their produce. As the farms can’t make much money they cannot afford to pay their labourers very much either, so they in turn cannot afford to eat, and the cycle of poverty continues. Photo GMB Akash

Supporting dedicated fair trade organisations can help make things easier for small holder famers which in turn can help to fight global hunger. Unlike supermarkets and other large corporations, Traidcraft, the UK’s leading fair trade organisation, works closely with small holder farmers. Traidcraft provides the support and advice they need to help them grow enough food for themselves and their communities, such as supporting them to buy better equipment, training them in increasing their productivity and advising how best to sell their produce locally.

Meet Moli. Moli is a smallholder farmer in Bangladesh Meet Moli. Moli is a smallholder farmer in Bangladesh. She owns a very small farm and grows tomatoes, cauliflower and cabbage. Thanks to Traidcraft and fair trade, Moli and other smallholder farmers in her area have been trained in activities like growing good quality vegetables, testing the soil, making compost and learning how to sell their vegetables. (Bost beans are a popular and valuable local product). These smallholder farmers can then go on to teach other farmers and farm labourers these skills. Photo GMB Akash Moli says: “Before, I supplied country beans and some leafy vegetables. Now I produce tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower and bost beans too!”

What could your school do to help? By supporting Traidcraft this Fairtrade Fortnight you will help to make things easier for more small holder farmers so they can produce more food for themselves and their communities. How can we all support Traidcraft and fair trade this Fairtrade Fortnight? (You may want to either brainstorm ideas about buying fair trade or fundraising for Traidcraft’s charity or you may prefer to discuss what you already have planned as a school) – more information at traidcraftschools.co.uk What could your school do to help?