13 March 2012

Students run cafe and spread Fairtrade message throughout school
Students supported Fairtrade fortnight by running an ethical cafe in school.

Oasis Academy Immingham opened the student-led Fairtrade Cafe twice a week to other pupils, to gain an understanding of the sustainable process in developing countries.

Sixth form student Tom Horton, 19, ran the cafe, which sold Fairtrade marked coffee, tea, hot chocolate and snacks, to coincide with Fairtrade Fortnight.

He said: "As a school we are working towards Fairtrade status and we could be accredited by this summer.

"This cafe will help towards our aim and other schools are following in the area, such as Coomb Briggs Primary school.

"The Fairtrade mark may have been seen as a fad in the past, but now people take it with real importance learning about what the mark means.

"It ensures everyone, including farmers, have a fair wage and they work in decent working conditions.

"Most people don't think about where a chocolate bar comes from and how it has been produced.

"Now it has become rightfully popular with big companies such as Cadbury and Co-op.

"We hope students who buy from the cafe become educated and spread the word at home."

Student Ryan Thompson, 15, helped out at the cafe and is part of the school Community Charity group which supports the Fairtrade mark.

"I have learnt a lot about Fairtrade, it doesn't taste different, and I didn't realise how poorly treated workers were in less developed countries," he said.

"Whenever I eat a chocolate bar, I try and make sure it is Fairtrade."

Paul Manarin, assistant principal, said the reward system on ethical snacks is working out very well.

"We offer a reward system which students can track online, and they gain points, which turns into vouchers for Fairtrade snacks," he said.

"The students run the system, which gives them an opportunity to be independent in school and they got into the spirit of Fairtrade fortnight."

For the full news article and to be taken to the website, click here