A Fair Trade Ripple Effect for Ghana

This summer I had the fun of escorting Fair Traders to Ghana the grand prize experience of the Raise Money Right contests.

As the group mentioned on this blog, we had a tremendous experience and returned to our various homes dedicated to the idea that we could help the people of Ghana by understanding individual Fair Trade actions. Since then I have been amazed at the range of activities our delegates have undertaken.

Steve White, now a first year student at MIT, was recently featured for his Fair Trade activism in a special issue of the Florida Catholic magazine (check out page B2). His mom, Diana, has begun outreach with her Florida parish about international mission work.

Elizabeth Cole of Texas has begun somewhat of a one-woman email campaign asking local businesses why they do or don’t carry Fair Trade coffee. Laura Duca of the University of Texas and Barbara Budde of the Diocese of Austin facilitated a discussion and viewing of Black Gold. Laura also took beads from broken jewelry donated by her local Ten Thousand Villages and organized a Fair Trade bracelet making party on campus.

These are just a sampling of the activities trip participants have been up to. Elizabeth describes the effort this way, “…we’re a Fair Trade bunch of maniacs and I have to say, we’re pooped!! But not as tired as those women carrying water for miles in Africa or sitting on floors weaving amazing baskets.”

It is very gratifying to see the ripples of a 10 day experience in West Africa making their way across several U.S. states. But it doesn’t have to take an immersion experience for people like you to help others participate in Fair Trade. CRS Fair Trade offers a range of resources, such as chocolate starter kits, to help you participate in the Fair Trade movement. Check them out and let us know how you are dropping your pebbles into the Fair Trade pool as we work together for economic justice.

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 25th, 2007 and is filed under Chocolate, Coffee, Events, Fair Trade, crafts . You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

A Fair Trade Ripple Effect for Ghana

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