A group of students from Millstreet Community School who formed the school’s first development education committee during their Transition Year in 2015/2016, received certificates in recognition of their efforts from Garda John Crowley. They had organised a range of activities within the school and local community. These included a climate change petition, the ‘thumbprint’ campaign, and a climate change seminar for local post-primary schools in Green Glens Arena. They also taught lessons to students on Fairtrade and the UN sustainable development goals.
Tag: Fairtrade
Coffee Producer from Honduras to visit Millstreet Community School
Millstreet Community School will have the pleasure of welcoming Jose Omar Rodriguez Romero to speak to students, staff and invited guests on Friday 4th March as part of Fairtrade Fortnight 2016 (29th Feb. – 13th March).
Mr Romero, who is known as Omar to his friends, is a guest of Fairtrade Ireland and he has a number of commitments during his stay so the school is delighted that he has been able to fit Millstreet into his busy agenda. Omar is a 4th Generation coffee producer, coffee lover, and resident of the village of Capucas, San Pedro de Copan, Honduras. He says Fairtrade is important, “…because it’s a scheme that is in the hands of small farmers and has a very positive economic, social, and environmental impact on the lives of the producers and the wider community”.
So what is Fairtrade? For many years our school has promoted the purchasing and use of products that have received Fairtrade certification. For products such as coffee, bananas, chocolate, tea, sugar, flowers, cotton clothing and wine to receive certification some strict criteria need to be met. When a product carries the Fairtrade Mark it means it was produced according to international Fairtrade standards. These standards ensure Fairtrade products are socially and economically fair and environmentally responsible. Key standards include the payment of a minimum price and a premium. For most Fairtrade goods there is a Fairtrade minimum price which is set to cover the cost of sustainable production for that product in that region.
Millstreet Community School is working towards becoming a Fairtrade school in 2015/2016 because we feel that it is only fair that the people who produce what we eat, wear and use should get paid enough to live on and have a chance to improve their lives. A Fairtrade school is one that has made a commitment to supporting and using Fairtrade products.
Fairtrade initiative by Millstreet Community School students
Photo: Transition Year students Áine McAuliffe and Cara Sheahan who devised and administered the Fairtrade survey that was completed by proprietors in Millstreet in February 2015
Millstreet Community School Transition Year Fairtrade Group have conducted a survey of Fairtrade products in our local shops and found a great variety available.
Buying Fairtrade labelled products is a powerful way to make a difference to the lives of people in poorer countries. Simply by switching to Fairtrade, you can help lift people out of poverty, at no cost to you. Fairtrade actually changes lives, by eliminating the causes of poverty. It guarantees fair wages; no child labour; environmental sustainability.
Locally available Fairtrade products include flowers, all Cadbury’s chocolate, some Nestlé chocolate, tea, coffee, drinking chocolate, Green and Black chocolate, and a wide variety of fruit. Keep an eye out for these when shopping locally in Coleman’s Centra, Supervalu, Nibbles, Herlihy’s Centra and Aroma.
The T.Y. class hosted a Fairtrade Fest in Millstreet Parish Centre on 28th February, and lots of people showed an interest. The T.Y. group now hope to set up a Fairtrade group here in town with interested people looking to get more involved.
We hope eventually to have Millstreet become a Fairtrade Town. This would raise the profile of the Fairtrade efforts in the area, and get recognition and media coverage for local outlets offering Fairtrade products. See fairtrade.ie for details.
It would be a big help if shops and community groups also got involved.
If you would like to find out more, you can e-mail <email> or phone 029 70087 and give your name and contact details. Thank you!
Hugely Impressive and Inspiring Fair Trade Fest on Saturday
We now share further images from a splendid occasion where the focus was on Fair Trade. Teachers John Magee as well as Chris Horan and Secretary Marian Buckley were also very much involved in [read more …] “Hugely Impressive and Inspiring Fair Trade Fest on Saturday”
‘Fair Trade Fest’ – Sat. 28th Feb. in Millstreet Parish Centre
The Fair Trade Fest will take place in Millstreet Parish Centre on Saturday 28th February 2015 after 6.30pm Mass. The event, which takes place during Fairtrade Fortnight, will raise awareness about the opportunities to purchase products marked with the Fairtrade stamp locally and how doing so supports the work of producers in developing countries. There will be a raffle for this hamper containing Fairtrade goods, some of which have been donated by local retailers.
Those who do not have a family member attending the school can buy a line on Saturday night in the Parish Centre to be in with a chance of winning the hamper. A line costs €1. The draw will take place at 7.30pm on Saturday night. All are welcome to attend.
