Fairtrade Groups recognised at Wales Africa Awards

February 2, 2018

On Monday 29th January 2018, over 160 people gathered at the Wales for Africa awards ceremony at the National Museum, Cardiff, to celebrate the work of International Development and Fair Trade organisations and  groups in Wales. The awards were presented to winners of 10 categories including: Youth Leadership, Innovation, Sustainability, Partnership, Inclusion, Shoestring budget, Fundraising Communications, Campaigns and Overall Impact. A number of Fair Trade groups and organisations were recognised for their work .

Dinas Powys Fairtrade Group were highly commended twice; in the Communications and Shoestring categories. Dinas Powys Fairtrade Group Chair, Cathie Jackson said:

“We are delighted that our efforts have been recognised, the volunteers work tirelessly to campaign for Fair Trade. Through our direct publicity in schools, clubs and the media we have been able to work with around 1/3 off all the people that live in the village to improve their knowledge of Fairtrade products and the equality that brings to producers.”

Fair Do’s/ Siopa Teg, based in Cardiff were highly commended in the Shoestring category for their education outreach programme also.

The Pembrokeshire based Fairtrade in Football Campaign was titled the winner of the Communications category, and was also highly commended in the Campaigns category. Sharron Hardwick, Founding Director spoke to Ffion about why she chose to start the campaign, and what the recognition meant to her.

Barry Town Council Fairtrade Committee was awarded the Campaigns Award, following their ‘don’t ditch Fairtrade’ campaign against Sainsbury’s’ decision to move away from Fairtrade certified tea. Ian Johnson explains a little about their award winning campaign (Welsh).

Other winners on the night included Cardiff based Dolen Cymru, South Wales -Sierra Leone Cancer Care and Somaliland Mental Health Support Organisation, the Swansea Siavonga Partnership, Swansea based Giakonda Solar Schools, the Brecon Molo Community Partnership and Monmouthshire based Bees for Development and Tools for Self Reliance Cymru.

Cat Jones, Head of Partnership at Hub Cymru Africa said: “This celebration was all about the huge contribution individuals, community groups and small charities in Wales make to tackle global issues.” First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “These awards are a opportunity to celebrate the many ways in which people in Wales are making the world a better place.

The event was coordinated by Hub Cymru Africa with funding from the Welsh Government’s Wales for Africa programme.