St Ives pupils go bananas for Fairtrade

FAIR GAME: Shoppers at the St Ives Anglia Co-operative foodstore must have thought they were going bananas last month.

They were greeted by a gorilla and a giant Fairtrade banana – all part of the efforts of youngsters at the town’s Westfield Junior School to promote Fairtrade Fortnight 2011, which ran from February 28 to March 13.

Westfield has spent 18 months working to be officially recognised as a Fairtrade-status school and went along to the Constable Road store to help promote Fairtrade products to customers.

During their visit pupils from the school’s Fairtrade committee were also told all about Fairtrade and the products available at the store and were able to sample Fairtrade bananas.

Since 1994 Fairtrade has helped to change the lives of millions of people in developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America by guaranteeing farmers and their workers a premium for their products – a premium that is helping to provide schools, clinics, medical assistance and equipment for hospitals, clean drinking water, community halls, improved roads; as well as helping farmers develop and strengthen their businesses and reward their workers.

Westfield Junior School is committed to Fairtrade, learning all about it across the curriculum, selling Fairtrade fruit and fruit juice in its tuck shop, giving pupils the chance to win a Fairtrade hamper in a free raffle – and taking part in a world record attempt.