Jenny returns enthusiastic about the Philippines!  

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BRISTOL FAIRTRADE CO-ORDINATOR VISITS PHILIPPINES

Bristol’s Fairtrade Co-ordinator, Jenny Foster, has just returned from a visit to Fairtrade producers in the Philippines. It was so inspiring to see the difference that Fairtrade makes to small scale producers; we visited Bicol which has been devastated by 3 typhoons. Those craft producers who were in a Fairtrade Co-operative received food aid and re-roofing supplies paid for by the Fairtrade social premium, distributed by the co-op according to need. We also met some producers who are not able to sell to the Fairtrade market – they lost part of their homes and all their raw materials – and there was no recompense available. The price they receive for their goods barely covers the cost of production but they have no other access to income, particularly in rural areas. The message to us here in the West is to create more demand for Fairtrade products so that more producers can come in under the Fairtrade umbrella.
 
Producers told us proudly of paid for with Fairtrade money and that they had funded their children’s college education with their higher level of income – a very rare luxury amongst the rural communities we visited.
 
We also saw the importance of Fairtrade in the cities. Manila has a population of 14million people, 7 million of whom live in slum housing. These temporary shanty towns are illegal and regularly get cleared by the government, leaving people homeless and having to move on every few months. Those workers who can gain employment with a Fairtrade company get a higher, regular wage, enabling them to access secure housing for the first time.
 
The SME projects receive business support and training from the Advocate of Philippine Fair Trade Inc (APFTI) who hosted my visit. They are working hard to access new markets and ensure the products are of the highest quality. The producers all use local materials and adhere to environmental and health and safety conditions. They also guarantee protection of children from child labour, in a country where children routinely leave school early to work to boost the family income.
 
I came back inspired about the huge potential of Fairtrade to lift people out of poverty whilst rewarding hard work and enterprise. But we desperately need more Fairtrade markets for more producers to benefit. Please buy Fairtrade whenever you can and encourage others to do the same.
 
If anyone is interested in knowing more, please visit these websites
http://www.apfti.org.ph/
http://www.fftv.ph/
www.safrudi.com


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