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Journey to Ghana
Lucy Walker volunteered with People & Planet as a mentor for school students campaigning on Fairtrade. At the end of her year as a mentor, Lucy was chosen to visit Ghana to meet Fairtrade producers.
Lucy (third from right) with other People & Planet Fairtrade Mentors.
As I sit waiting for my flight to Accra, Ghana, I can’t quite believe my journey to get here.
Over a year ago, I applied to be a Fairtrade school mentor with People & Planet to work with young people around issues that I – and they – care about, to share knowledge on trade issues, social injustices and corporate power, and ultimately convey the fact that we can all influence change.
The experience was extraordinary/ I knew that young people would be engaged but could never have guessed the extent of their immediate concern (wanting to know why trade works the way it does and what we can do now); desire to learn and debate (from communism to the influence of sweatshops upon consumerism); and their creativity and passion in working out how they could make a difference (from telling a neighbour to staging extreme political stunts).
On a recent visit back to the school I got to see what the students had been up to in the name of Fairtrade. They had entered a Fairtrade baking competition (with ingredients including teabags and limes), were running a lucrative Fairtrade stall, and had developed a short video to convey current injustices and what young people can do.
Mentoring with People & Planet fuelled a love of working with young people around issues that I am passionate about. I went on to work with young people in Kenya around peace, to work with students affecting change in their communities in London, and I am now working to end female genital cutting worldwide.
And now I’m here! Off to Ghana on a ‘Meet the People Tour’ with Traidcraft. I am most looking forward to hearing people’s stories about how Fairtrade has impacted their lives, their opinions, and what they want to happen next. I want to find out the difference Fairtrade really makes – and to be able to share that difference.
So for now, Mma Ache Ghana!
Inspired by Lucy’s experience? Find out more about People & Planet’s Fairtrade campaigning or book a workshop for your school or college.
Source: http://blog.peopleandplanet.org/blog/2014/02/20/journey-to-ghana/
