St Joseph’s Roman Catholic High School is committed to supporting Fairtrade wherever possible. Our commitment is a reflection of a declaration in our mission statement that “Every member of our community is responsible for creating an environment that is caring, fair and respectful”.
Fairtrade is a way of introducing wider issues about fairness in the world such as global justice, ethical trade and sustainable development. It also compliments our association and commitment to CAFOD and Caritas.
Fairtrade is all about supporting small-scale farmers and workers in poorer countries. This means making sure that they have decent working conditions on the farms as well as receiving a fair and secure income for what they produce.
Global Justice
Many people think that trade is unfair because it works in favour of the rich and powerful countries and increases the gap between rich and poor people.
Fairtrade is a useful starting point for exploring global justice and development, as well as a way of promoting trade that gives a better deal to the producers.
Ethical trade is about improving conditions for all the workers involved in making the products that we buy, for example, making clothes from Fairtrade cotton. It’s really important that companies take an ethical approach.
They should try to make sure that all the workers involved in the ‘supply chain’ (that means all the stages from picking the cotton to manufacturing cloth to making clothes) have decent pay and working conditions. It’s not a case of choosing between Fairtrade and ethical trade – companies should do both.
Sustainable development is about using the world’s natural resources in a way that will not harm present or future generations. This might involve farming in an organic way rather than using harmful pesticides, or managing water supplies carefully. In the Fairtrade system, environmental standards aim to help producers improve their way of working. For small farmers, the increase in income from Fairtrade can support them in investing in environmental protection schemes or changing to organic farming methods.
In particular the school will:
Support the Fairtrade Steering Group;
Ensure Fairtrade is part of the School Development Plan;
Be committed to selling, promoting and using Fairtrade products as much as possible. If we have problems, we can at least show that we have tried and will continue trying. We will:
1. Use Fairtrade products wherever possible (for example):
2. Use tea, coffee, sugar and biscuits in the staffroom and at meetings;
3. Host food related activities e.g. supporting charities (CAFOD, Hunger Lunches);
4. Ask the PE department to purchase Fairtrade sports balls when buying new ones;
5. Explore using school uniforms made with Fairtrade cotton;
6. Ensure Fairtrade products are available wherever possible. For example, at events in the school or the community;
7. Have a Fairtrade shop;
8. Develop the School’s links with the New Hope Orphanage, Kenya;
9. Ensure our whole school learns about Fairtrade in at least three subjects in each of two year groups (Religious Studies, History, Geography, Art, Textiles, Music and Drama);
10. Ensure learning about Fairtrade happens in whole school activities (Assemblies, Charities and Cross-Curricular days);
11. Our school promotes and takes action for Fairtrade at least once a term in the school and once a year in the wider community. This way it becomes a regular part of what we do, and allows everyone to take part in helping to bring about a fairer world;
12. Promote Fairtrade within the school and wider community, particularly during Fairtrade Fortnight;
13. Do something extra each year to promote Fairtrade.
