AS part of its fifth birthday as a Fairtrade City, Derry City and Strabane District Council is hosting a series of celebratory events to acknowledge the success of Fairtrade City status.
Among the events scheduled to take place during Fairtrade Fortnight is a series of primary school art workshops at the Eden Place Arts Centre, the Fountain Youth Club and Youth First in the Bogside.
One of the highlights of the celebrations will be a visit by Sara Montoya from the COOPCAFER coffee co-op in Colombia who will give an insight into the benefits of Fairtrade to her community.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Cllr John Boyle welcoming the programme of events said he fully supported Fairtrade Fortnight and the important role the Council has taken since securing the Fairtrade city and District status to promote Fairtrade products and the ethos around Fairtrade.
He said: “I am delighted that we are celebrating this important milestone in our Fairtrade calendar that will look at the positive way in which we have embraced Fairtrade status.
“In addition to local businesses embracing Fairtrade by using Fairtrade products, the iconic Free Derry Walls has been temporarily transformed to read – You Are Now Entering Fairtrade Derry.
“The Fairtrade City Status recognises the dedication and commitment of many people, from across the city and district who has embraced Fairtrade as a vehicle for promoting social justice for those in developing countries who produce many of the food items that we enjoy each day.
“A lot of work is going on to encourage our business community to make a conscious effort to source Fairtrade food and other items and to make these available to people in this city.
“We hope that these businesses and the wider community can see the real benefits that Fairtrade brings to the lives of some of the poorest communities in the world.
“Every time you choose a Fairtrade product you are helping to make a big difference to the lives of those farmers and their families,” he said.
Other events coming up this week as part of Fairtrade Fortnight include a discussion taking place today, Wednesday, March 6, at the Hidden City Café at 7pm entitled: Is Fairtrade A Means To Trade Justice? On Friday 8th March, the Power to the Pupils event will take place at Eden Place Arts Centre and featuring six local schools to explore Art as a tool for social change, followed by the Holding Up Half The Sky: A Celebration of the role of women within the Fairtrade Movement with special guest Sara Montoya.
For more information on Fairtrade Fortnight visit http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/en/get-involved/current-campaigns/fairtrade-fortnight
