Fairtrade Fortnight (23 February to 8 March) is just around the corner and the Oxfam shop in Broad Street needs extra helpers to work on a stall outside the shop on Saturday 28th February. You would be getting passers-by to taste Fairtrade tea, coffee and other goodies, and also selling Fairtrade goods. Please contact Rachel at volunteer@oxfordoxfamgroup.org.uk if you are able to help.
We have been doing events like this for over a decade, back when Fairtrade was pretty niche - they are usually a lot of fun, as well as being a good way to spread information about Fairtrade. Among our exploits of yesteryear, we organized a "Mad Hatter's Tea Party" for the UK launch of TeaDirect. It somewhat bemused two delegates visiting from the co-operatives producing the tea (it seems that Lewis Caroll is not so big in their part of Uganda). Given the mismatch between my 6'2" frame and the brown plush dormouse costume we had, I am glad that Naveed probably has no photos (though do check the comments box, in case he has!).
More seriously it was very interesting to hear first-hand what Fairtrade could do - their first projects for their Fairtrade premium were to expand the medical facilities they had at their dispensary, and to build a bridge. Without the bridge, some farmers had to trudge for miles on foot with sacks of tea on their backs to get their crop to the co-operative's processing plant. That's the kind of thing buying Fairtrade achieves.
Don't worry - as far as I know, the upcoming event is not fancy dress.
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