A leading Fairtrade activist will travel to Inishowen this March to encourage others to use ethically sourced products during Fairtrade Fortnight.
Brazilian Rafael Furtado Fonseca, who is the Marketing Director of a leading Fairtrade coffee co-operative COOMAP, is coming to visit Buncrana, Clonmany, Ballyliffin and Moville on March 7th as part of a joint initiative by Fairtrade Ireland and Changemakers Donegal.
During his visit, Rafael intends to visit local shopkeepers to thank them for using Fairtrade products and to encourage them to stock more. He will also visit local coffee shops in Buncrana and talk to them about the importance of Fairtrade and how it can improve the lives of so many people working in the coffee industry.
Rafael, along with Fairtrade representatives, will attend events in Moville and Clonmany where they will enjoy Fairtrade products and speak to people in Moville about how it is important to keep the Fairtrade momentum going following their award of Fairtrade status in 2017.
Myra McAuliffe, project co-ordinator of Changemakers, which is an Inishowen Development Partnership Initiative that is partnered with Donegal ETB, Self Help Africa, Trócaire, and Concern and funded by Irish Aid, said they want to get the message out that Fairtrade matters.
“Our focus this year is on getting more Fairtrade products available in Donegal shops, cafes and hotels at a time when climate change is already affecting growers, producers and traders,” explains Myra.
Uganda Tea Farmer Innocent Owomuhangi with Shauna McClenghan IDP, Patsy Toland and Myra McAuliffe ChangeMakers, Aidan Ring Fairtrade Ireland and Kate O’Callaghan ChangeMakers
“We can all see, hear and feel the effects of climate change around us but it is affecting small farmers and workers more than most. Making small changes such as buying Fairtrade tea, coffee, bananas, chocolate and even flowers with the Fairtrade mark can make a difference.
“For example, the chocolate brand Tony Chocolonely is 100% Fairtrade so stocking this in your shops or cafes can make a difference,” added Myra.
Carndonagh and Moville have already received Fairtrade Town status, while Buncrana is currently in the running to be named Inishowen’s third Fairtrade town. Ballyliffin and Clonmany are aiming to achieve ‘Fairtrade Community’ status.
“The Fairtrade movement works with farming co-operatives, businesses, and governments to make trade fair for farmers and workers. It provides safer working conditions and fairer pay while for shoppers it means high quality, ethically produced products,” added Myra.
