For the last three and a half years the Youth for Fair Trade project has worked with 180 young people to help them become advocates of Fair Trade – a movement that has challenged governments, companies and consumers to change the way we think about trade and to ensure that producers receive a fair deal. 

Our partner, Y Care International has produced for us a Youth for Fair Trade Resource Pack. It has been designed for teachers and youth workers to help them connect young people to the key values of fairness and equality; to explore what fair trade means to them; and to support them to take action to make the world a fairer place. 

If you would like a hard copy of the Resource Pack then contact david.williams@coventrycathedral.org.uk or you can download it via this link YFFT_Resource_Pack_(Mobile)[1]

The project and pack have been funded by the UK Government Department for International Development.

7pm-midnight, Friday 4th March, 54 Student Union, Cox Street, Coventry.
Hosted by Trish Adudu (BBC Coventry and Warwickshire) the event will feature clothes from Fairtrade companies such as Emma Watson’s People Tree collection, Pants to Poverty, Gossypium, Komodo, Exclusive Roots, Made in Coventry, Monkee Genes and FiveG at Debenhams, in a catwalk show, framed by music and dance performances. Coventry University s fashion design students will also show their Cyrenian s collection of re-worked counterfeit clothing (in conjunction with Trading Standards at Coventry City Council), showcased at last December s Clothes Show at the Birmingham NEC. Finally the winners of FashionEthics, our Fair Trade themed fashion design competition for young people between the age of 18 and 26 will be presented. There will also be a few stalls including Pants to Poverty, Exclusive Roots and Akoma Cooperative Multipurpose Society/ Ghana.

Free Entry. All welcome!!!

Twisted Fashion: Marjata Döll, m.doell@coventry.ac.uk, 07891 499326

For more information visit:

www.facebook.com/twistedfashion
www.twistedfashion.org

Do you have a passion for entrepreneurship and marketing?  Do you care about social justice and fair trade?  Then why not think about getting involved in a fair trade business? Fair trade is grounded in the principle that trade rather than aid is the best long term solution to economic development in poorer countries, and that by helping them to develop profitable, sustainable businesses, we can help improve the lives of those who live and work in those communities. This principle has been inspiring entrepreneurs not just in developing countries but also here in the West.  Social enterprises and ethically guided businesses have been rapidly growing, with over 200,000 social enterprises now operating in the UK alone.  These businesses operate across many industries and include the fair trade food, drink, clothing, catering, gifts, stationary and even cosmetics. One such company is Bubble & Balm, a fair trade bodycare company founded in 2009.  They have made a commitment to supporting Fairtrade and are the UK’s first 100% Fairtrade bodycare company, with all of their products carrying the well known Fairtrade mark. This commitment to fair trade has not just helped the producers of ingredients such as sugar, produced by the Kasinthula Cane Growers in Malawi, one of the poorest countries in Southern Africa, but has also been a major boost to Bubble & Balm’s business.  Their fair trade stand has helped create a loyal customer following, gained considerable media attention and helped them to become a winner in the Startups 100 list, described as “the definitive countdown to the UK’s most innovative, inspiring and ground-breaking new companies”.

Excited by fair trade business?

If you’re interested in working for a fair trade business or even starting up your own fair trade enterprise then you must attend this years Youth for Fair Trade Conference in Conventry.  This years conference gives you the opportunity to meet leading figures from fair trade businesses including Bubble & Balm, Divine Chocolate and Revolver World. You’ll not only get the chance to find out how they’ve made a success of their fair trade businesses, but will also have the unique opportunity both to discover how to launch a fair trade product and also to share your ideas as ethical consumers with Bubble & Balm. Want to know how to launch a fair trade product? Then be sure to attend Y4FT2010!

Don’t miss out

If you’re passionate about fair trade and would like to have a fun and life changing weekend, then round up your friends and book your places at Y4FT2010 in Coventry on the weekend of the 29th to 31st of October 2010. Places are limited so be sure to reserve your ticket online at www.y4ft2010.com or on the phone by calling David on +44 (0)24 7652 1265.