BABY’S DAY OUT WITH FAIR TRADE

On Saturday, Oxfam International’s Make Trade Fair campaign celebrated World Fair Trade Day by engaging in activities focused on promoting the fair trade movement. World Fair Trade Day, which is celebrated on the second Saturday of May, is the world’s annual celebration of fair trade.

This year’s theme for WFT Day was Kids Need Fair Trade. The condition of children in developing countries presents a gloomy picture. They are deprived of basic amenities such as healthcare, education, clothing and shelter. The root cause of all this is poverty. The campaign works for poverty reduction and fair trade can eradicate poverty. Over the last few years, the campaign is working to stabilize farmer incomes, promote fair trade, create meaningful diversification options, and provide farmers and farm workers with access to farm credit, technical assistance and market information. Fair trade benefits small-scale producers by ensuring a fair price for products, environmental sustainability and empowerment of farmers.

In line with this year’s theme, there were many activities that educate children and the community of adults around them about the benefits of fair trade. Painting competitions, debates, essays and rallies were organized in various parts of the country with partner organizations such as Yuva, Cecoedecon and Ekta Parishad. In Vidarbha, the region notoriously famous for farmer suicides, children drew farmers hanging themselves from trees and ceiling fans. Ask 9-year-old Snehl why his drawing shows a farmer with a noose around his neck? Pat comes the reply, “My father is a farmer. There is no water to irrigate our farm and there is no electricity. My father struggles to make two ends meet. I have heard of farmers killing themselves in this region because of huge debts. My drawing reflects exactly that.” Five-year-old Antariksh drew a house and a pretty garden. He says that it is his house and his garden but he does not play in the garden as his free time is spent working in the farm. It is surprising but true the children are well informed of the dark side of life. Shweta’s reply is fitting and telling. She feels that farmers commit suicide because of farming. The children enjoyed themselves singing songs about courage and persistence and performing short skits.

In Nagpur city, children from Shantinagar slums were seen dressed in their best. About 150 to 200 children gathered to celebrate World Fair Trade Day.  The day started with the lighting of the lamp and the children spoke at length about the ill effects of child labour.  10-year-old Khushboo said it is important for children to have rights: right to food, right to shelter and right to education and health.  A paiting competition was also held. The children were thrilled when it was time to release fair trade balloons and they could not hold their excitement. For 14-year-old Komal, it was a perfect day. She not only learnt about fair trade but also got a chance to anchor the entire show. The children presented a charter of demands to the local corporator, Ravindra Dodhas.

Jaipur too celebrated world fair trade day with much fanfare. It was a great day for children and partner organization CECOEDECON. It was ‘SPEAK-OUT’ time for children. Poster making on different aspects of fair trade, short plays on poverty, songs and documentaries on child labour marked the day’s activities The main focus was the impact of unfair trade practices on the lives of children The whole programme was implemented by rural children groups. People from different walks of life such as judges, media personalities, representatives of various social organizations, members of civil society organizations, school teachers, small and marginal farmers, women self help groups, school children, members of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI), theatre artists and office bearers of farmers’ organizations participated in the daylong programme. Babita, a young girl of 13 years from Tonk District expressed her incredible struggle against child marriage system. Bherulal, a 17-year-old boy narrated his father’s experience. His father could not repay the loan taken from a local moneylender. As a result, the boy had to forego his education. A six point charter of demands was presented by the children to local legislatures. A fitting finale to children’s voices being sounded across the country and their concerns heard.