Fairtrade at Upton Hall School
Upton Hall School, FCJ, the first Fairtrade School on Wirral, works throughout the year to inform and educate the pupils and the community about the Fairtrade system and Fairtrade issues. Fairtrade is part of the Curriculum throughout school.
Fairtrade Fortnight is celebrated each year by retailers, schools and many other groups and individuals, to inform and educate others about the difference made to farmers, producers and their families when we purchase goods bearing the Fairtrade logo.
Although many exciting events are held throughout the year, Fairtrade Fortnight is the highlight of the year nationally, and below are some of the events held at Upton Hall.
Fairtrade Fortnight -
Friday 5 March 2010
Harry’s Nuts are Fairtrade!
Cashew nut farmer, Juan Louis, explained to a group of Sixth Form Fairtrade Girls from Upton Hall School about the difference that Fairtrade has made to his life and the labour-intensive process of nut production.
Harry’s Nuts are Fairtrade which has had an enormous impact, not only on the farmers, but also on the local community. Comedian Harry Hill has given his name, free of charge, to these cashew nuts grown in El Salvador.
The premium has enabled the cooperative of farmers to provide electricity to a local village and fund the building of a bridge between the mainland and an island providing a community of nut farmers 24 hour access.
Upton pupils spell out Fairtrade for the Lord Mayor
Upton Hall girls launched their celebration of Fairtrade Fortnight, which runs from 23 February to 8 March, by spelling out ‘Fairtrade’ to the Lord Mayor!
The Lord Mayor, Cllr Adrian Jones, attended Upton Hall on Tuesday 10 February to watch the Gym girls produce a human version of the Fairtrade Mark and perform dance, ending with them spelling out Fairtrade in true TalkTalk© style!
Afterwards he spent time over a Fairtrade ‘cuppa’ with the Sixth Form students from the Fairtrade Group who talked of their plans for Chocolate Fountains (Fairtrade, of course!), a Human Fruit Machine and a sale of Fairtrade gifts ready for Mothers’ Day and Easter.
The Human Fruit Machine
A Fairtrade Banana, a Fairtrade Bottle of Red Wine and a Fairtrade Tea-bag were the main players in the Human Fruit Machine! A bang of the pan lids, a roll of the hands and the fruits were drawn out of the Fairtrade buckets! Winners enjoyed a DUBBLE chocolate bar.
The Fairtrade Chocolate Fountain
Marshmallows, strawberries, grapes and sponge fingers were dipped in rich, luxurious Fairtrade chocolate.
Upton Hall Pupils go Bananas!
For Upton Hall girls, the finale of Fairtrade Fortnight was playing their part in the Fairtrade Banana Bonanza, to set a world record for the largest number of Fairtrade bananas eaten over a 24-hour period! All over the world, producer groups, Fairtrade colleagues and supporters will be taking part in this event.
The Human Fruit Machine was in full swing, and there was a sense of celebration in the pupils as they ended two weeks of chocolate fountains, craft stalls, chocolate tasting and even a “Make an Offer” stall.
And, of course, learning how lives of farmers and producers in developing countries can be improved simply by our purchasing power - choosing to buy goods showing the Fairtrade Mark.
One in four bananas bought in the UK is Fairtrade. This world record attempt will make it absolutely clear to retailers – we all want Fairtrade bananas, for us, for producers, for the planet.