Fairtrade worker Sara Montoya, from a Fairtrade Coffee Co-op in Columbia, was the special guest in Limerick today (Tuesday 05 March 2019) at an event to coincide with Fairtrade Fortnight.
Sara joined Fairtrade supporters from across Limerick and Ireland for the annual initiative, which features a programme of talks and community events aimed at promoting awareness of Fairtrade and Fairtrade-certified products.
Speaking at the event in Dooradoyle, Sara outlined the success and benefits of the Fairtrade movement in Colombia and how important it is for people in the developed world to think of Fairtrade products when shopping.
This year's campaign Create Fairtrade invites us all to use our imagination and create fairtrade in our lives.
Young people from across Limerick city and county were also a focus of the event as they displayed their posters, which they created to help change the way people think about trade and the products on our shelves.
Speaking at the event, Mayor of the Metropolitan District of Limerick Cllr Daniel Butler said: “I want to thank the Limerick Fairtrade Committee for continuing their efforts to promote the Fairtrade message. Since Limerick became a Fairtrade City in 2005, the movement has become a lot more visible and people have become a lot more conscious of where products are sourced.”
“I would also like to congratulate the entrants in the poster competition. Through your efforts you are raising the profile of Fairtrade and the important work it carries out across the world.”
Chairperson of the Limerick Fairtrade City Committee, Dolores O’Meara, said “While around €342 million worth of Fairtrade products were sold in Ireland in 2017, it’s important, we need to keep up this momentum. Farmers on small holdings in the developing world depend on the choices we make as consumers. When they trade through Fairtrade, they not only get a fair price which provides them with a sustainable living but their Fairtrade Co-operative also gets an additional payment, which is used for community development projects. We can change the world and bring about equality when we choose items with the Fairtrade logo.”
This event saw the winners of the Limerick Fairtrade City Committee’s Poster Competition targeted at schools and community groups being announced.
Targeted at schools and community development groups, the Fairtrade Poster Competition 2019 winners are:
1st Prize: Lara Orosz, Milford NS
2nd Prize: Katie Quinn, Catherine McAuley School, South Circular Road
3rd Prize: Niamh Twomey, Milford NS
Sr Rosetta Gray Award: Alan Wallace, Desmond College, Newcastle West
Highly Commended Medal Winners:
- Robyn Fogarty and Emma Reynolds, Croom NS
- Anne Greenslade, Jay Walsh, Joe Hyde, Kate O’Connor and Nathan Silien, Milford NS, Castletroy
- Sarah Lehane, Cara Power, Molly Ryan, Oliver Sherlock and Roisin Flanagan, St John’s NS, Cratloe
- Brooke Hennebry and Leah Carroll, Corpus Christ, Moyross
- Shane Collins and Mark O’Sullivan, St Mary’s Boys’ NS, Abbeyfeale
- Elina Freiberga and Emma O’Brien, Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh Roxborough
- Alicia Redfern, Scoil Chaitriona, Cappamore
- Shinranne Crawford, St Augustine’s School, Sexton St
- Lauren Rosie O’Dwyer, Rian Holmes, Clara O’Sullivan, Ronan Power, Cian Enright, Ciara Looby, Knockea NS
- Darragh Murphy, Aaron Morris, John Roche, Meenkilly NS, Abbeyfeale
- Patrick Peters, Elle Conway, Cáit Ní Mhaidín, Ailbhe Ní Chonaill Nic Mhánais, An Mhodhscoil, O’Connell Ave
- Keyshia Avan, Liam Judge, Hawa Coco Gavi, Jodie Corbett, Renee O’Donoghue, Our Lady of Lourdes
- Anna Ní Athairne, Caitlín Ní Riain, Caoimhe Ní Ghamhna and Molly Ní Chearbhaill, Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ, South Circular Road
- Donal O’Farrell, Tommy Heffernan and Patricia Barrett, Brothers of Charity Fairgreen
- Helen O’Regan, Michael John, Brothers of Charity Our Lady of Lourdes
Fairtrade Fortnight 2019 continues until 10 March. For more information visit www.fairtrade.ie or www.facebook.com/FairtradeIreland.