Rockhurst students didn’t have to leave the school for Christmas shopping. The school hosted the annual Fair Trade Fair Dec. 6 and 7. The event is a long-standing tradition, celebrating its 19th anniversary this school year. The event ran during Activity Period on the 6th and during all three lunch periods both days.
To understand the significance of the Fair Trade Fair, it is essential to have an understanding of what Fair Trade is. Fair Trade is a global movement of business and trade that puts people and the planet before profit. The movement seeks to battle injustice in society such as gender inequality, climate change and poverty. For a company to be considered a Fair Trade organization, they must follow the ten Fair Trade principles which guide them in following the Fair Trade movement. These generally include the requirement that the group or business follows equality principles and fair price ideals.
The Fair Trade Fair took place in the Barry Commons, where six vendors set up tables to sell their products. These products ranged from handmade goods created by women in Uganda to pottery made right here at Rockhurst by Mr. Tate Owens’ students. The pottery students sold their goods to support Unbound, an organization which works to support the marginalized and vulnerable.
More specifically than benefiting Unbound, the money collected from the pottery sale went to two students from Kenya and the Philippines, Peter Kirimia Mutani and Natalie Prieto. Rockhurst has had a relationship with these students for years through Unbound.
A new organization to the Fair Trade Fair this year was BoysGrow. BoysGrow is a farming and mentorship program that helps support the Kansas City youth.
BoysGrow has a farm stationed in the Grandview area. Youth on the farm focus on the core principles of pride, commitment and respect. Young entrepreneurs on the farm are hired based on their interest in one of the core three teams: farming, construction, or culinary arts. On top of this, they participate on two of the supplementary teams of their choosing: marketing and media, public speaking, animal husbandry, landscaping, and mechanics. The three core teams work together to make, advertise, and sell their respective products. They sell a variety of condiments to help fund the farm. The recipes are made up by BoysGrow with ingredients from the farm.
In addition to this newcomer, there were several returning organizations. One of those organizations was the Gotta Have Hope organization. This non-profit is run by theology teacher Jonathan Feder and his family. The organization works with a group of women in Uganda whose homemade goods they sell locally in the Kansas City area.
The Gotta Have Hope organization made $810 in the two days of the fair. While this may not seem like an impactful amount, this money is making a difference. The money earned from the Fair is going to put six of the Ugandan women’s children through a semester of school.
The Fair Trade Fair takes place just a few weeks before Christmas every year. Not only does this help the organizations that participate bring in a little extra money, it provides a great outlet for students to get Christmas gifts.
“I got a lot of Christmas shopping done,” said junior Rory Colligan, “and it all went to a meaningful cause which made it feel more special.”
Not only do students leave with special fair trade products, but they also have the chance to learn the messages the vendors hope to spread.
“Fair trade is important because it both provides good quality products with good working conditions behind them. Fair trade is a representation of what all working conditions should strive to be,” said junior Brady Goffinet.
