School children from around Wales were invited to an Alice in Wonderland style tea party at the Senedd this week to celebrate the launch of the ‘World’s Biggest Fairtrade Tablecloth’.
The tablecloth, which was created by 85 schools across Wales using Fairtrade cotton, was displayed outside the Senedd atop a giant table, whilst inside children were treated to a special Fairtrade buffet.
Lorraine Barrett, Welsh Assembly Member for Cardiff South and Penarth, who hosted the event said: ‘I was hugely impressed with the Fairtrade tablecloth that had been made by so many pupils across Wales. It is encouraging that so many young people are growing up knowing how important it is to support Fairtrade’.
After a speech from Jane Davidson, Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing, Assembly Members were asked to swap at least one of their regular shopping items for the Fairtrade alternative as part of the Fairtrade Fortnight Big Swap. The pledges, which were also written on Fairtrade cotton, were then added to the tablecloth making it even bigger.
Jane Davidson said: ‘This event provided an excellent opportunity for promoting the importance of Fairtrade and I was particularly pleased to meet so many Fairtrade enthusiasts from local schools.’
‘By switching to Fairtrade we can all play our part in supporting some of the poorest farmers and producers in the world to trade their way out of poverty and it is really encouraging to see so many shoppers of the future supporting the Fairtrade principle.’
Teacher Moria Cuff from Glantaf Community Infants School who contributed to the table cloth said: ‘It was a fantastic opportunity for pupils from our school to come to the Senedd and show the Fairtrade work our school had done to the Environment Minister, Jane Davidson. It was a great day and the pupils enjoyed spotting their patch on the tablecloth.’
Fair Trade supporters, Assembly Members and the children then had the opportunity to meet a Fairtrade Tea producer, who spoke of the direct benefits Fairtrade has had on the tea pickers and the people in his community, including libraries for children and improved health care facilities.
Danielle Johnson, schools coordinator for Fair Trade Wales said: ‘It was great to have so many schools that wanted to be involved in creating the ‘World’s Biggest Fairtrade Tablecloth’. Pupils are the next generation of decision makers, so it’s fantastic to see so many of them caring about how they treat the world and people in it.’
Wales is leading the way with the Big Swap Campaign for Fairtrade, with schools, town groups and now Assembly Members pledging to swap to Fairtrade. 21 AMs have pledged Fairtrade swaps (that’s a third of all AMs), swapping to things such as Fairtrade chocolate, beauty products and fruit. The AM swaps were an act of leadership, showing their support for Fairtrade. The public can also pledge their swaps at www.thebigswap.org
For more information on Fair Trade in Wales, you can visit www.fairtradewales.com
