Pupils in Monmouthshire are joining with thousands of people across Britain to celebrate 30 years of the Fairtrade Mark, as they take part in Fairtrade Fortnight from 9th – 22nd September 2024.

This year’s Fairtrade Fortnight theme is Be the Change. Choose Fairtrade, and aims to emphasise how the cumulative effect of our shopping choices allows farmers and agricultural workers overseas to create a better future. By buying Fairtrade products we can “be the change” and help contribute to a better tomorrow for millions of farmers. 

Jenipher Sambazi, a Fairtrade coffee grower from Uganda visited three Monmouthshire primary schools - Overmonnow, Osbaston and Rogiet - to talk about her experience as a Fairtrade farmer and the difference that Fairtrade makes. Her coffee growing co-operative in Uganda has been suffering from landslides and flooding as a result of climate change.

Jenipher’s Coffi is on sale in Wales and is one way that people can make a difference.

The Fairtrade premium means that the communities in Mt Elgon are developing tree planting, sustainable farming methods and joint education programmes, to help mitigate the impacts of climate change and become more resilient to the weather extremes they increasingly face.

Monmouthshire’s four Fairtrade Town groups in Abergavenny, Chepstow, Monmouth and Usk are also organising a host of events across the country during Fairtrade Fortnight.

Each event will bring home the message that choosing Fairtrade, whatever your budget and wherever you shop, means an investment in farmers’ future, helping them to improve their communities, their quality of life and to take care of the environment.

Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, Cllr Catrin Maby said: “Climate change is affecting people’s lives across the world.

“Jenipher’s visit is helping our learners to understand how Fairtrade is helping farmers and growers to develop ways to cope with the impacts of climate change and adapt to different weather extremes. 

“Monmouthshire is proud to be a Fairtrade county and to be joining with these 30th anniversary celebrations.  By thinking carefully about the impact of what we put in our shopping baskets, we can “be the change” and make a difference to people’s lives.”