adunn1
Registered: December 2007
City/Town/Province: Toronto/Ontario
Posts: 1
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I recently I initiated and helped organize a special event at my school. I saw the need for a major fundraiser that not only supported the school, but that also had global impact. When I was volunteering at this year’s Junction Arts Festival, I noticed a fair-trade section. This was intriguing and thought provoking.
As part of this year’s environmental committee, SEEDS, Student Educators for Environmental Development and Sustainability, I suggested that we hold our school’s very first Faces of Fair Trade fair. I organized this event and it was a huge success! Ten percent of all profits made went to SEEDS.
This event was all about raising awareness within our school about fair compensation for fair work. Fair trade vendors came to our school during the lunch hour for one week, selling a variety of products and goods. One of our vendors was selling banners and buttons promoting human rights, social justice, exposing corporations, and social and environmental issues. Others were selling chocolate, jewelery, bags, and clothing. In addition, this fair enabled us to support local business owners as well as those hard working abroad. It is about creating a global community.
People are becoming more aware of the issues we face each day and I feel as if people want to help but do not know how to take action. Simply by educating people to make good choices everyday, they are helping to develop a sustainable lifestyle.
I was so happy to see the success of the fair. I was smiling all day. I am passionate about the environment and social justice. What better way motivate people than to share my passions? Many other staff and students already do share my passions and were so excited to have Faces of Fair Trade in our school. This was important for me and everyone involved because we love helping people, making a difference, and buying delicious milk chocolate.
This was one of the first times I felt the power and joy of a concerted effort on behalf of a great cause. What is most exciting and valuable about this fair is that it is just the start of what is to come. Already, we have booked fair-trade vendors to sell goods at my school’s performances. Moreover, we are welcoming Faces of Fair Trade back to our school during the holiday season to create more awareness and so people can purchase ethical products.
This one small idea that I initiated and organized has snowballed to become a great change for our school. There will be many future events that will evolve from this simple fair, some of which are already underway.
On April 25th, 2008, SEEDS and I are organizing an official Fair-Trade Day. There will be many vendors and a café taking place in the library. There, there will be live music courtesy of the talented students at the Etobicoke School of the Arts. This day will be open to the community as well as to our staff and students. We are educating and out-reaching. The end-of-the-year goal is to have all the clothing products the school purchases to be produced and manufactured by fair trade companies.
We used some of the money fundraised to purchase trees, which then we planted on our school grounds: 2 Tulip trees, 1 red maple and 2 hackberry's. The rest of the money is in safe keeping for future projects.
I, along with SEEDS and many other people in the school, believe that now is the time to take action.
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