Our Events and Support Coordinator is leaving us after two years, here’s her experience:

“When I saw the job advertised with Fair Trade Wales I felt drawn to it, I had a little knowledge of the organisation and the cause and knew that supporting them to promote the movement would be fulfilling. 

Previously I had hosted a Fairtrade breakfast during Fairtrade Fortnight at another organisation and I donned ‘the’ banana suit to welcome walkers during the Fair Trade Way.

The job neatly fit around my freelance work and really appealed to my sense of human rights, social justice and equality. It’s a force for good and something I wanted to be part of.

Applying for and subsequently getting the job at Fair Trade Wales was like dipping a toe back in the world of the charitable sector and I’m so relieved and lucky to say it paid off. It’s probably the nicest and most supportive organisation I’ve ever worked for and I felt very welcome from day one.

Two years at Fair Trade Wales

In the two years I’ve worked for Fair Trade Wales we have achieved a lot. I’ve built up my knowledge and experience, grown as a person and that’s something to be proud of.

It’s been brilliant getting to know the communities and characters of Fair Trade in Wales, UK, Scotland and further afield. The sector is so hard working and really puts the people it wants to support at the heart of everything.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the organisation, even through a pandemic and an international three day conference. It’s been good for my soul.

Thank you Fair Trade Wales and Hub Cymru Africa”.

Highlights

I’ve done everything from having a photo inside an eco coffin, doing limbo underneath a broom handle and driving Jenipher, a coffee producer from Uganda, to Barry for afternoon tea. Apparently I am a “speedy driver”, thanks Jenipher.

A few highlights include some of the events I’ve helped organise including the International Fair Trade Towns Conference which was so much hard work but a spectacular success with over 250 delegates from 41 countries. It really brought home to me how important Fairtrade is to the people it supports and the vital work being done.

Taking over Neville Southall’s twitter account during the Nestle campaign was an incredible experience too, interacting with lots of new people and spreading the Fairtrade message to a platform of almost 200,000 people, who I discovered can get incredibly passionate about Fairtrade chocolate”.

Get involved with Fairtrade 

• It’s really easy to be more Fairtrade minded, look for the mark on products and try them. I promise you that Divine and Tony’s Chocoloney is really so much better than other chocolate. Spending ethically if you can, is a great way to support the cause.
• Also keep an eye out for Fairtrade Fortnight in your local area, there’s always something to get involved with and local groups may have opportunities to join in too.
• Sign up to the Fair Trade Wales newsletter and follow them on social media to keep up to date with what’s going on.