Last month, our Head, Aileen Burmeister, was invited to speak with Women Connect First in Cardiff, a small registered charity led by and for Black, Asian and minoritised women and girls, who have been doing remarkable work from their centre in Riverside, Cardiff, for over two decades.

The session was part of their ‘Diverse Voices on Climate Change’ project, where everyone had the opportunity to come together and have an open conversation about fair trade and climate change.

Aileen explained what Fairtrade is, and how the system works to support farmers and workers in low and middle income countries, with supporting video testimonies from Fairtrade producers. Participants listened to stories from people who help to grow the coffee and chocolate we buy, and who are experiencing first hand the increasing damage to their harvests and communities as a result of climate change.

Farmers around the world are telling us clearly that climate change is already reshaping their lives. The Fairtrade Foundation is calling on the government to pass a new law that holds businesses accountable for any abuse or climate damage behind their products. You can support this campaign by signing the Fairtrade Foundation’s petition here.

At the end of this session, participants were given the chance to try some Fairtrade products from local shops, with items from Zaytoun being a favourite. 

Mildred Foster, Project Coordinator at Women Connect First, said:
“Thank you for a great session. All ladies enjoyed your presentation and learned a lot about the Fairtrade movement. They all found your talk very informative and felt inspired to buy Fairtrade products and spread the word with family, friends and their communities.”

A huge thank you to Women Connect First for the warm welcome. Make sure to follow them on their social media platforms and website:
Instagram: @women_cf
Facebook: @Women Connect First
Website: womenconnectfirst.org.uk