TUNBRIDGE WELLS CELEBRATED THE 1ST ANNIVERSARY OF FAIRTRADE STATUS WITH A TOWN CENTRE ART INSTALLATION

Tunbridge Wells celebrated the first anniversary of its Fairtrade Town Status in March 2008 – during Fairtrade Fortnight. To mark this anniversary, twenty local schools joined together to create a community art installation, sited in Calverley Precinct in the Town Centre.

The new installation was one part of a multifaceted schools project which focused on six words:

Justice

Equality

Dignity

Hope

Choice

Respect

These six words were picked out as an embodiment of everything that the Fairtrade mark stands for. The words are central to a number of activities which were planned for 2008 by Tunbridge Wells Fairtrade Town Group.

The premise which underpinned the project was that in talking and thinking about the significance of these six words, students would conclude that the rights and values they give to others are in fact a reflection of the rights and values they give to themselves. This project was particularly pertinent in 2008, the 60th anniversary of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html

Many of the articles laid down in that declaration are realised through the Fairtrade movement:

the right to realise economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for a persons dignity

the right to fair and equal pay

the right to standard of living adequate for health and well-being; the right to education

Fairtrade is intimately involved in improving the lives of many families across the world, for example, being part of a Fairtrade co-operative enables farmers to improve their economic situation, to better provide for their families, send their children to school and improve their communities as a whole. The good thing about Fairtrade is that we can all play a part in changing our world for the better. This last year has seen a growth in the numbers of local shops and cafes stocking and serving Fairtrade products. This growth is a reflection of a growing perception that a fairer world can lead to a better world for us all.

 

SCHOOLS TAKING PART IN THE ‘FAIRTRADE BANNER PROJECT’

St. Gregory’s Catholic Comprehensive School

Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School

Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys

Broomhill Bank School

Oakley School

Meadows School

Bidborough Church of England Primary School

Claremont Primary School

Kent College

Langton Green Primary School

Sherwood Park Community School

Southborough Church Of England Primary School

St. Augustine’s Catholic Primary School

St. Barnabas Church of England School

St. James’ Church of England Primary School

St. James’ Church of England Infants School

St. Matthew’s Church of England Primary School

St. Peters Church of England Primary School

St. Paul’s Church of England Primary School

Speldhurst Primary School

Pembury Primary School

View previous projects

 

Other useful sites with resources for schools include:

http://www.fairtrade.org.uk
http://Makepovertyhistory.org
http://Christianaid.org.uk/learn/index.htm
http://Oxfam.org.uk/
http://tearfund.org.uk/
http://peopleandplanet.org/tradejustice/fairtrade
http://www.lifeandsoul.net

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