Fair Trade: A Fair Deal for Farmers

 

 

 

ghana  bean  scales  kumeah  divine 

 

Enduring Understanding 

Changes in economic systems affect cultural systems, including political and social systems.

 

Guiding Question 

How can we enjoy chocolate and other products and participate in economic strategies that support cocoa farmers?

How can we educate others in our community to buy fair trade products?

  

Agenda 

Day 1:   Introduction: Guilt Free Chocolate: Is it Possible? PowerPoint 

            Facts about Ghana and Cocoa PowerPoint (Facts about Ghana Test

            Kuapa's Fair Trade Cocoa Cooperative PowerPoint  (Story of Kuapa Test)


Day 2:   Growing Chocolate Simulation 

 

Watch this video to find out more about Fair Trade.


 

Research Topics 

  Fair Trade | Independent Farmers | ChocolateCoffee | Other Products | TakeAction Organizations 

    

 

Research Topics 

 

Fair Trade

Everyone should begin by looking at the following websites to understand Fair Trade. Make sure you begin a new project in Noodletools to keep track of your sources! 

 

Use this graphic organizer to take notes! 

 

Fair Trade Overview Fair Trade USA

Equal Exchange 

The Fairtrade Foundation based in the UK and devoted to promoting fair trade product

 

Independent Farmers

At Issue: Fair Trade - from SIRS Issues Researcher

Proquest Platinum scroll down to ProQuest Platinum and click on it again. Possible key words: product (coffee or chocolate), farmers, economics, health, environment, rain forest. Use the suggested topics box to narrow your search.

SIRS Issues Researcher - use "fair trade" as a key word

Google News see list of keywords above

 

Chocolate

  Kuapa Kokoo Fair Trade Cooperative 

 

Links for Divine Chocolate: 

What projects are build with fair trade money? 

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    Fair Trade Chocolate in the U.S. 

     

    Other Fair Trade chocolate cooperatives and companies around the world:

     

    Coffee

     

    Other Fair Trade Products

    Use this link from the Fair Trade Foundation to find cooperatives that produce other products. Use the table of contents on the left. Here are a few, but you should search for more information on these producers:

     

    Sugar: Kasinthula Cane Growers Limited and read more about them on the Fair Trade website 

    Cotton: Agrocel works with local family farmers in India

    Beauty Products: The UGPPK, Union of Shea Butter Producers are women who collect shea nuts for cooking and use in beauty products

     

     

    Take Action Organizations

    Global Coalitions 
     
     
    Help Raise the Bar on Chocolate Fundraising. Global Exchange. Accessed 12/12/09
     
    Join the Global Exchange's Sweet Smarts Group Global Exchange. Accessed 4/7/10.
     
    We want more from our S'mores Video. Global Exchange. Accessed 4/7/10.
     
    Green America
    Fair Trade at Your Supermarket. Green America.  Accessed 12/12/09
     

    Fair Trade  FoundationWe are a Fairtrade School Fairtrade Foundation. 12/14/09

    How Fairtrade is My School   (Survey sample) Fairtrade Foundation. 12/14/09

     Papapaa Fairtrade and Chocolate Fair Measures Student Survey  Papapaa Fairtrade and Chocolate. Papapaa. Accessed 12/14/09

     

     

     

    Project Suggestions

    SIRS Discoverer - see what other kids are doing.

     

    Survey - Create school or community surveys to find out what people know or think about Fair Trade Chocolate 

    • School Survey
    • Community Survey
    • Supermarket Survey

    Education Campaign - Create posters, webpages, TV Ads, videos, pamphlets, posters, glogs, etc. to educate people about Fair Trade Chocolate.

    • Inequities - Create awareness about inequities in cocoa farming communities caused by low prices for cocoa beans on the global market and "fixed scales" on the local market.
    • Fair Trade - Show how fair trade principles help to reduce inequities and improve social conditions.
    • Fair Trade Chocolate Companies - Show how fair trade chocolate companies like Kuapa Kokoo are helping to increase farmers' income and improve farming communities.
    • Chocolate Trade - Show how the chocolate trade system works from bean to store shelf.
    • Political Empowerment - Show how cocoa farmers, especially women farmers are gaining political power and leadership positions.

     Persuasive Letter Writing Campaign - Write persuasive letters about Fair Trade to grocery stores, politicians, chocolate companies.

    • Stores – Benefits of selling fair trade chocolate as an equitable business practice.
    • Politicians/Lawmakers – Persuasive letter on why lawmakers should support fair trade legislation and principles.
    • Chocolate Companies – Why is it profitable for companies to buy fair trade products.

     

    Global Coalitions - Learn from and connect with students on Fair Trade projects

     

    Blog 

     

     

     

     Materials for Teachers 

    Fair Trade Curriculum. Global Exchange. Accessed 12/8/09

    Papapaa: Teach about Fairtrade and cocoa. Comic Relief.  Accessed 12/8/09

    Papapaa Live. Comic Relief. Access 2/18/10

     

     

    Photo Credits: Courtesy Divine Chocolate

    Webpage created by Brenda Randolph
    Thanks to Divine Chocolate and the Teaching for Change curriculum group for content suggestions
    Silver Spring International Middle School
    Montgomery County Maryland

    Updated: March 28, 2011

     

     

     
    This site is maintained by Francoise Domaas.
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