Pupils brew up for Fairtrade
12 March 2010
Primary school pupils in Kirkby have been brewing up with
residents to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight.
A group of pupils from Eastcroft Park Primary School, Tower
Hill, known as the ‘Fairtrade Friends’, visited Fairhaven Sheltered
Housing, where they shared a cup of Fairtrade tea and biscuits, as
part of their ‘Big Brew’ theme to celebrate Fairtrade
Fortnight.
The purpose of the event was to promote the use of Fairtrade
products and to highlight the difference it can make to developing
countries. The pupils also took along Fairtrade sugar sticks and
rubber gloves to do the washing up, and even enjoyed a game of
bowls with the tenants.
Part of the Kirkby Collaborative of Schools, all schools in
Kirkby celebrated Fairtrade Fortnight by doing something fun, and
were provided with a range of Fairtrade goodies.
Each school was supplied with Fairtrade bananas, coinciding with
the chosen theme ‘Kirkby goes bananas’. Some schools held ‘bananas
in pyjamas’ days, where pupils could come to school dressed in
their pyjamas. Other activities included making banana-related
recipes in school, dressing up in something yellow, and special
assemblies to educate the pupils on the importance of
Fairtrade.
Steve Dixon, Kirkby Collaborative Development Manager said “We
feel it is vital to educate our pupils on the importance of
Fairtrade, and the difference it can make to those in developing
countries.
“All of our pupils across the family of schools in Kirkby
enjoyed taking part in the range of activities, and came away with
a better knowledge of what it is all about.
“The pupils at Eastcroft Park Primary really enjoyed visiting
the residents of Fairhaven. The activity not only helped to spread
the message of Fairtrade, but also helped bring the community
together and have fun.”
Many of the ideas to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight came from the
pupils themselves through the newly formed Kirkby Schools Council.
Meeting on a regular basis, two pupils from each primary school
represent the views of their school and voice their opinions.
Cllr Wright, Cabinet Member for Children and Family Services
said “It’s great to see our schools getting involved in Fairtrade
Fortnight and learning the important message behind it.
If we instil this message whilst they are young, it will
hopefully encourage them to be more conscious of buying Fairtrade
products as they grow up and encourage their families and friends
to do the same.”
Knowsley Housing Trust helped to organise the Big Brew event
with Eastcroft Park Primary School and were pleased to get
involved. Jamie Sowler from KHT’s Customer Involvement team said,
“Our residents at Fairhaven had a great time. It was great to see
the two generations of Kirkby residents come together to have fun
and raise awareness for a worthy cause.
“It really highlights what a fantastic community spirit we have
here in Knowsley and hopefully this event has helped promote the
use of Fairtrade products.”
The Kirkby Collaborative of Schools are working towards
achieving the Fairtrade Schools Award, and having a collaborative
Fairtrade status for the schools by the end of the year.
Check out photos from the Fairtrade event at Fairhaven Sheltered
Housing on our Flickr site