Brewing up a fair trade treat

Eden Pollitt & Tyler Talmage from Healey Primary School

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Young people from around the borough have been learning about the importance of fair trade - from someone who really knows.

Around 100 school pupils attended a very special tea party at Rochdale Town Hall where they met Joseph Cheruiyot, chairman of an independent co-operative tea plantation in Kericho, East Kenya.

As well as brewing up some of his own delicious tea, Mr Cheruiyot explained about the crucial role that ethically sourced products play in creating a sustainable future for people in developing countries.

And as Rochdale is officially the World Capital of Co-operatives and a Fairtrade Borough, Mr Cheruiyot was certainly in the right place to explain how he set up a co-operative in 2008 to ensure that tea growers in Kericho got a better deal. The co-operative is called Kibagenge which means “coming together as one”.

Mr Cheruiyot’s tale mirrors that of the famous Rochdale Pioneers who, back in 1844, wanted to help local people buy basic necessities at fair prices.

In recognition of this link, a representative of The Co-operative, the UK’s largest mutual business which organised the tea party in partnership with Rochdale Borough Council, was also at the tea party to listen to Joseph and promote 2012 as the International Year of Co-operatives.

Fairtrade Fortnight (27 February - 11 March) will see a range of local and national events to celebrate the values of the global movement that gives some of the poorest producers in the world a better deal for their goods.

During the tea party there was also an introduction to the Rochdale Fairtrade Forum, which raises awareness of fair trade across the borough.

Chris Taylor, Policy Support Officer, Sustainability and Climate at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “It was a wonderful event and we’re very grateful to Joseph for coming to visit the World Capital of Co-operatives.

“Thanks to his talk and demonstration the young people now know how important fair trade is – and how great Fairtrade tea tastes!”

Councillor Colin Lambert, Leader of Rochdale Borough Council, said:“Fair trade and the Co-operative Movement are closely linked and it was wonderful to be able to celebrate our involvement in both with the tea party.

“Through coming here Joseph has shown our next generation how the choices we all make when doing our shopping can have a positive impact on people thousands of miles away.”