As part of our work in Global Citizenship, this year for Fairtrade Fortnight students learned more about the benefits of supporting fairtrade for the farmers and producers of some of our favourite food products like bananas, chocolate, tea and coffee. This year we looked more critically at the topic with a focus on how climate change is impacting how our food is being produced.

Ms Cooney and the Social Justice Club organised a fairtrade stand in the canteen area for students to sample a selection of fairtrade treats. Staff also enjoyed a Fairtrade Cuppa Morning. Students from Ms Moran, Mr Mullen and Ms Cooney’s CSPE, Geography and Home Economics classes looked at the topic further. Mr Mullen’s 1st and 3rd year Geography classes enjoyed some fairtrade hot chocolate.

On Tuesday 7th March we were delighted to welcome Aidan and Hannah from Fairtrade Ireland along with Special Guest Innocent Owomuhangi a fairtrade tea farmer from Uganda to the school. They spoke to students, staff and members of our community about the importance of supporting fairtrade. This was a brilliant opportunity for everyone to meet a farmers directly involved in fairtrade.

We invited a number of people in our community to the event and so we would like to say thank you to Patricia Holahan from Leitrim County Council, Michael representing Ballinamore Supervalu, Vincent and Cian representing Tesco Ballianmore and Kay Maguire and Ian from Ballianmore Tidy Towns who attended the event on Tuesday.