Keynsham celebrated Fairtrade Fortnight this year with a visit from Fairtrade coffee grower, Melba Estrada from Nicaragua.
Melba visited St. John’s School where she addressed an assembly, as well as the local Oxfam shop where she viewed the wide range of Fairtrade products on sale, before meeting members of Keynsham Fairtrade Group at Cafe Bar One Nine over a cup of Fairtrade coffee. Melba spoke of her life as a coffee grower and community worker, and the difference selling to the Fairtrade market has made to her life. One of her daughters is now at university studying to be a doctor, which has only been possible because of a scholarship funded by the social premium given to her local community as part of the Fairtrade deal.
The winners of Keynsham Fairtrade Group’s Cook for Change Fairtrade Recipe Competition were announced recently. The Fairtrade Group had invited people to send in recipes which used at least two Fairtrade ingredients. Our winning recipes were:
Banana & Chocolate Muffins, sent in by teenager Beth Richards and her mum, Gail, of Keynsham
Irish Tea Cake, sent in by Jennifer Thompson, of Downend
Easter Chutney, sent in by Christine Hobbs, of Downend
Prizes were donated by Bar One Nine, Franks Restaurant, the Cookware Shop and Diana Nutt (TraidCraft).
The Fairtrade Group hopes to publish a Keynsham Fairtrade Recipe book later this year, or early next year.
We are delighted to report that Wellsway School has officially achieved Fairtrade School status. Well done, Wellsway!
Keynsham Fairtrade Group will be having a stall at the Victorian Evening on 30th November.
We are planning ahead for Fairtrade Fortnight 2008, 25th February - 9th March.
The Group is always looking for volunteers to join them. Meetings are friendly and informal. The next meeting will be on 7th November at 7.30pm in the Town Council office. To find out more, contact Rachel Ward on 0117 9868683 or email Rachel_ward@bathnes.gov.uk
