Fairtrade Foundation launches DVD for schools

The resource provides ideas and inspiration for students, teachers and young people in education, either interested in becoming a Fairtrade School or seeking ideas on ways to support Fairtrade. The DVD features 25 school case studies from all over the UK showing how they can incorporate Fairtrade into school life and the curriculum. Fairtrade is currently taught across a wide-range of subjects including citizenship and 'Every Child Matters'. International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander is planning on visiting a Fairtrade school in Bristol during Fairtrade Fortnight. He said: 'I've always been struck by the enthusiasm and interest among pupils in Fairtrade and international development issues when visiting schools that are committed to selling, learning about and using Fairtrade products. The interest in education in the developing world and Fairtrade from young people in British schools gives me confidence that the future of the Fairtrade movement is in safe hands.' The Fairtrade Schools Scheme has been running for two years and more than 2,500 schools from around the UK are currently registered on the scheme. The scheme is a national initiative by the Fairtrade Foundation to engage young people in development issues and help tackle global poverty through trade. To achieve Fairtrade status, schools must meet five criteria, including setting up a Fairtrade School Steering Group, made up of both teachers and pupils, and committing to use Fairtrade products within the school. They also have to write and adopt a school Fairtrade Policy, incorporate Fairtrade into lessons and promote Fairtrade both within the school and to their wider community. Schools have to renew their Fairtrade status regularly to prove their ongoing commitment. Hundreds of schools will take part in activities during Fairtrade Fortnight ranging from Fairtrade assemblies, fashion shows, film screenings and Fairtrade breakfast clubs. More than 20 farmers from Sri Lanka, Cameroon, Burkina Faso and St Lucia will tour separate areas of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and many will visit schools to talk to students about the potential of Fairtrade to make a difference to global poverty. The highlight of this year's Fortnight will be a 24-hour world record attempt for the number of people simultaneously eating a Fairtrade banana across the UK. The mass banana eating will take place between noon on Friday 6 March and noon on Saturday 7 March, with hundreds of events expected to take place around the country and many schools planning activities. More than 1,000 pupils from Bradford Grammar School in West Yorkshire will join in the fun and eat a Fairtrade banana on 6 March.