The World’s Biggest Fairtrade Table Cloth!

March 3rd 2010

Fair Trade Wales aims to increase awareness and engagement around Fair Trade issues in Wales,

support a self-sustaining Fair Trade movement in Walesand to enhance the commitment to Fair Trade in Wales of the

public, private and third sectors.

As part of Fairtrade Fortnight 2010, Fair Trade Wales joined forces with 85 schools to raise awareness of Fair Trade by

producing the world’s biggest Fairtrade table cloth!

The tablecloth was made from patches of Fairtrade cotton and used at a giant Fairtrade tea party for MPs and AMs, held

outside Y Senedd in Cardiff Bay on March 3rd 2010.

Schools across Wales were busy designing colourful Fairtrade cotton patches on the theme of Fair Trade in the run-up to Fairtrade Fortnight 2010.

The finished patches were sewn together to create this impressive giant display!

The patches showcase each school’s artistic ability and creativity, but more importantly, the designs demonstrate the awareness and support of Fair Trade shown by the young people of Wales.

No two patches look the same; the designs focus on a wide variety of different Fair Trade issues. What the patches share, however, is an understanding of Fair Trade issues and a positive approach to change.

It’s great to see Wales’ young people united in their support of the BIG issues surrounding Fair Trade, a concept that is fully realised in the table cloth itself: when the individual cotton patches are sewn together the result is outstanding!

Enjoy this selection of photographs of the table cloth. Perhaps you can spot your school’s patch?

Side A

Side B Side C

Side D

Side D

Side A

The tablecloth caught the attention of Wales’ AMs and generated much discussion on the topic of Fair Trade.

Thanks to the efforts of the schools that contributed to the eye-catching tablecloth, an impressive 22 AMs made BIG swaps, pledging to swap a product they buy regularly to its Fair Trade alternative and added their pledges to the table

cloth making it even BIGGER!- a fantastic result!

Here’s a selection of photographs of some of the AMs that made BIG swaps on the day!

Janet Ryder AM (below) pledged to swap to Fairtrade rice and Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM (right) made his BIG swap to Fairtrade nuts. Lorraine Barrett AM (bottom right) hosted the day.

Andrew Davies AM (top left), Jane Hutt AM (top right) and John Griffiths AM (bottom left) all pledge to swap to Fairtrade flowers!

Jane Davidson AM spoke at the event (pictured below, pledging to swap to Fairtrade melons).

In her role as Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing, Jane Davidson AM works closely with global issues and is a keen supporter of Fair Trade. She was pleased to meet so many young Fairtrade enthusiasts and encouraged the pupils to keep up the good

work and continue to support Fair Trade.

Pupils from Allensbank Primary School, Glantaf Community Infants School and Ysgol Gymraeg Garth Olwg attended the event to perform songs and poems and to hear from Dushantha Delwita, a Sri Lankan Fairtrade tea producer (pictured below with pupils, AMs and Fair Trade Wales staff).

Fair Trade Wales would like to thank all of the schools that helped make the

world’s biggest Fairtrade table cloth!We wouldn’t have been able to do it without…

AngleseyYsgol Llandrygarn

BridgendBrynteg ComprehensiveGarth PrimaryHeol-y-Cyw PrimaryOgmore SchoolPencoed Primary Tondu PrimaryWick and District PlaygroupYsgol Cynwyd SantCoychurch Llangrallo PrimaryYsgol Y Ferch o'r Sger CardiffBirchgrove PrimaryChrist the King PrimaryEglwys Wen PrimaryGlyn Derw High SchoolMeadowbank Special SchoolSt. Bernadette’s PrimarySt. Mellon’s CIW SchoolSt. Philip Evans RC SchoolHerbert Thompson Infant SchoolHowell’s School CarmarthenshireLaugharne VCP SchoolRhydygors Behaviour Support CentreYsgol Dyffryn TafYsgol Gyfun EmlynYsgol Gymraeg Parc y TywynYsgol y Dderwen

 CeredigionYsgol Gynradd BronantYsgol Gynradd LlanilarYsgol Gynradd Gymunedol DihewydFelinfach Primary School ConwyYsgol Bro CernywYsgol Glan Gele FlintshireNercwys VCP SchoolRector Drew Junior SchoolTrelawnyd VA SchoolYsgol GwyneddTaliesin Junior SchoolVenerable Edward Morgan RC PrimaryHawarden High School GwentRougemont SchoolRhymney ComprehensiveMalpas Court Primary GwyneddYsgol AbererchYsgol Edmwnd PrysYsgol Eifion WynYsgol PenybrynYsgol y GorlanYsgol Llanllechid 

MonmouthshireUpper Rhymney PrimaryUsk Church in Wales Primary PembrokeshireHaverfordwest VC SchoolSt. Aidan’s VA School PowysBrecon High SchoolBronllys CP SchoolBuilth Wells High SchoolFfynnon Gynydd PrimaryCwmdu CIW (VA) Primary SchoolFranksbridge C P SchoolGungrog SchoolLlandysilio CiW SchoolLlangattock CIW PrimaryMachynlleth PrimarySt Joseph's RC SchoolYsgol Dafydd LlwydYsgol GlantwymynYsgol Llangynfelyn Rhondda Cynon TaffFerndale Infant SchoolGlantaf Community Infant SchoolGlenboi Community Primary SchoolYsgol Gynradd Gymraeg Garth Olwg 

SwanseaBrynhyfryd Junior SchoolClydach Junior SchoolYsgol Gyfun GwyrYsgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pontardawe

Vale of GlamorganLlancarfan PrimarySt. Nicholas CW PrimarySt. Joseph’s RC PrimarySt Richard Gwyn High SchoolLandough Primary WrexhamAlun SchoolJohnstown Junior SchoolRhosddu PrimaryHolt Community Primary SchoolSt Joseph's Catholic & Anglican High SchoolSt. Christopher's SchoolYsgol Sychdyn

THANKYOU!

Want to buy Fairtrade Cotton?

• Schools can order Fairtrade cotton from a number of places including: http://www.organiccotton.biz/ (the tablecloth fabric was purchased from here)

• For a full list visit: http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/products/cotton/stockists.aspx

• For Fairtrade School Uniform suppliers view our suppliers list at: http://www.fairtradewales.com/schools/resources/493

• To campaign for more places to stock Fairtrade School Uniforms visit: http://peopleandplanet.org/wearfair

• For personalised cotton bags, or personalised tea towels for schools visit: http://www.bishopstontrading.co.uk/shop/articles.php?category_id=26 http://www.bishopstontrading.co.uk/shop/articles.php?category_id=10

• For more pictures of the tablecloth event visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fairtradewales/sets/72157623429451323/