Derry City and Strabane District Council gains fairtrade status

by Gráinne Connolly

The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Maolíosa McHugh joined the pupils of Knockavoe School in Strabane this week to celebrate the Council area achieving full Fairtrade status.

He visited the school to find out more about the work they've been doing to discover how Fairtrade operates and promote the Fairtrade message.

(Roisin Bradley (Knockavoe), Tracey Patton (Strabane Food Bank), Ursula Gallagher (Strabane Community Project), Maoliosa McHugh (Mayor), Heather Hamilton (DCSDC Council), Martina McComish (Knockavoe Principal), Jim Keys (Foyle Fair Trade), Emma Donaghey (DCSDC Council). Front row l-r, Kyle, Tristan, Rory, Lee, Wjovtak, and Eimear)

Back in 2014, the former Derry City Council was awarded Fairtrade city status. 

Since then, the new Derry City and Strabane District Council passed a resolution in 2015 to demonstrate Council’s support for a campaign to achieve Fairtrade status for the whole Council area.

It's now the first Council in Northern Ireland to achieve Fairtade District Status. 

Councillor and Mayor McHugh said he was delighted that the council is taking the lead in raising awareness about responsible trading and supporting disadvantaged producers and workers in developing areas:

“I think it’s fantastic that Derry and Strabane Council is taking an active approach to changing people’s trading habits by raising awareness of the issue.

“If local people choose Fairtrade products it will directly impact on improving the livelihoods and working conditions of people living in developing countries, ensuring sustainable production and reducing opportunities for exploitation.”

(Ursula Gallagher (Strabane Community Project), Roisin Bradley (Knockavoe), Maolíosa McHugh (Mayor), Heather Hamilton (DCSDC Council), Martina McComish (Knockavoe Principal), Jim Keys (Foyle Fair Trade))

Council are part of a Fairtrade Steering Group that promotes Fairtrade locally and a number of awareness events have taken place throughout the year including one for both primary and secondary schools.

Roisin Bradley, the Rights Respecting School Coordinator at Knockavoe School in Strabane, said their pupils had been working hard to promote the values of Fairtrade, and encourage people to consider buying Fairtrade products.

That's products such as tea, coffee, sugar, chocolate and bananas. 

She says: 

"We are a Rights Respecting School Level 2 and the rights of pupils are at the heart of everything we do.

“We actively promote Fairtrade awareness and support.

“The pupils enjoy various multisensory activities to enhance their understanding of Fairtrade. By taking an active approach and encouraging others to make better shopping choices and to purchase Fairtrade goods we are helping to ensure that the rights of workers are also supported in both the local and wider community."

Work has also been ongoing on a regional level to support the campaign for Northern Ireland to achieve the status as a Fairtrade devolved region.