The 22nd of February marked the start of Fairtrade Fortnight 2021, a campaign aimed at improving the working conditions, terms of trade and sustainability of farmers and workers in developing parts of the world.
Oftentimes, Fairtrade Fortnight is celebrated by a number of hosted events around the UK, which seek to attract local businesses and promote the issue of fairtrade.
However, in a similar situation to many other individuals, charities and businesses, the global pandemic has had an impact on the Fairtrade Foundation’s ability to operate normally and raise much needed funds.
Despite this, with the greater uptake in vaccinations and the government's newly released roadmap, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
What is Fairtrade Fortnight?
Fairtrade Fortnight is a charity campaign observed at the end of February and start of March every year. It seeks to bring together individuals, companies and groups across the UK to campaign for better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fairer terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us more than ever how interconnected we are globally. This focus on globalisation is at the very heart of the Fairtrade message, campaigning for greater equality between the developed and developing world. As part of the developed world, we have the power to incite long-term change through our shopping behaviour.
How you can support Fairtrade
Fundraising activities, especially those that are appealing to getting people involved, are a fantastic way to raise awareness of Fairtrade, supporting their message.
Traditionally, the most popular fundraising events have been bake sales and marathons. Unfortunately, in our current situation, neither of these are viable. Time to get creative!
Join the online Fairtrade festival - You can expect to find fascinating and fun events highlighting all parts of the global Fairtrade community, including Fairtrade farmers and workers, other climate campaigners and of course the amazing grassroots network.
Social Media - Use social media resources to spread the word online and add more voices to the growing campaign. Everything you could possibly need has already been created by the Fairtrade Foundation, including posts and banners for your facebook, twitter and instagram along with this Fortnight’s key messages and FAQs to support your online campaigning. Further resources can be found here.
Host an online event - If you have a smartphone, tablet or computer, there are lots of video calling platforms available such as Skype, FaceTime, Zoom, Teams, Whatsapp, House Party or Google Hangouts. Pick the platform that works best for you, decide on a date and time, and send out an invitation to family and friends - encouraging them to make a small donation for attending! You could even bake especially for the occasion, and show off your goodies online!
Buy fairtrade - One of the best ways to support the Fairtrade movement is through the purchasing of Fairtrade products. This could be coffee beans for your cafe or milk chocolate for your baked goods. By shopping Fairtrade, you ensure that your products have been sourced ethically, with the producer receiving fair price for their goods.
Get Busy
Get busy today. The opportunities are endless and you can be as creative as you like with your fundraising initiatives and events.
However, if you can’t fundraise for whatever reason, no need to worry. There is the alternative option of donating any amount online, as a one-off payment or a recurring monthly payment.
By donating, you’re ensuring a stronger Fairtrade. A stronger Fairtrade means more farmers around the world getting Fairtrade’s guaranteed minimum price, a lifeline in times like these when markets crash.