Fairtrade fun
Aim: Have fun and introduce the topic of fairtrade You will need: A group of people, music (optional). Duration: 10 minutes
This is a game for younger children. Explain that there are five different actions, depending on what word the leader calls out:
- Banana (lie on ground in a curve)
- Coffee bean (crouch down and jump up and down)
- Tea (mime drinking a cup of tea)
- Cocoa pod (get into groups of 3, two people old hands, the third is the cocoa bean inside the pod)
- 'Fairtrade' (everyone holds hands in a circle, and runs towards the centre - calling out 'fairtrade'- then back out)
When everyone starts getting tired finish the game, and bring everyone together. Explain briefly that the crops they have been representing are all grown in poorer countries like Ethiopia, Sri Lanka and Ghana. Often the farmers are not paid a very high price for their crops, but there is a system called 'Fairtrade' that means they get paid a fairer price. These goods are for sale in the shops, and you can recognise them by a special label.
Extra option
You could continue the session by showing the group a selection of fairtrade items, and letting them taste, smell and look at them.