Welcome to Fairtrade Fortnight 2015! 23rd February – 8th 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 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.

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. Can anyone name any of the places where people might not have enough food to eat? Photo: Richard Else

Small holder farmers are very important 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 rest 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

Supporting fair trade can help make things easier for small holder famers. Traidcraft, a fair trade organisation, works closely with small holder farmers to help them buy better farming tools and learn about how to grow more food for themselves and their communities. Photo GMB Akash

Meet Moli. Moli is a smallholder farmer in Bangladesh, which is in central Asia, near India. 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). Photo GMB Akash Moli says: “Before, I supplied country beans and some leafy vegetables. Now I produce tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower and bost beans too!”

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 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 have planned as a school) – more information at traidcraftschools.co.uk/fairtradefortnight