Fuel Up for Finals with Fair Trade – Fall 2017

Fall 2017 – Program Highlights

We worked with 74 campaigns on college and high school campuses across the country who have strong relationships with retailers and food service and are influential voices in their communities.

Over 10,000 people were reached through campus events including students, staff and faculty.

Schools with the largest turnout were Texas A&M University in College Station, TX (2,000 attendees), Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, CA (400 attendees) and Mercy Vocational High School in Philadelphia, PA (350 attendees).

“Fair Trade Finals this fall was hosted at a large dining hall on campus. More than 2,500 students eat lunch there daily. It was great exposure for the Fair Trade campaign on our campus. Students learned about the principles of Fair Trade and sampled delicious chocolate, fruit chews, coffee and tea from the sponsors.”

Here’s your chance to get some great, free materials for that final Fair Trade event of the fall semester! Donations from a few generous Fair Trade partners make it possible for us to support campaigns hosting a Fair Trade study break or other event during Finals Week.

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Participate with four easy steps:

1. Sign up. Fill out the Registration Form to sign up for the program. Sign-up deadline: November 8.  

2. Register your event. Add your event to the events page on our website.

3. Host your event!

4. Post about your event on social media using the hashtag #FTCampaigns.

5.  Report-back about your event by filling out the form in an email that you’ll receive afterward.

Here’s what you’ll receive in your event kit:

* Fair Trade Coffee from Sun Coffee Roasters 

* Fair Trade Chocolate from Tony’s Chocolonely 

* Fair Trade Tea from Traditional Medicinals

* Fair Trade Artisan Goods from Mayan Hands 

* Fair Trade Candy from Wholesome Sweeteners

* Coffee, Tea, Chocolate, Sugar and Fair Trade 101 fact-sheets 

Want more Fair Trade 101 fact-sheets? Visit our resource library and search ‘101’.

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Not sure how to Fair Trade Your Finals? Here are a few ideas to help get the ball rolling.

Idea 1: Table with Fair Trade coffee, chocolate, tea and candy 

Give your classmates that extra boost as they head into or out of the library! Set up a table with Fair Trade Coffee (Sun Coffee Roasters), Chocolate (Tony’s Chocolonely), Tea (Traditional Medicinals), Candy (Wholesome Sweeteners) and beautiful, handmade artisan items (Mayan Hands) plus educational materials, fact-sheets on Fair Trade, stickers, pins and story cards about each product (all included in the kit).

You can also create your own materials to highlight what you have accomplished this semester and are looking to achieve in the next. Use this as an opportunity to get the word out about your campaign and recruit new members! 

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Idea 2: Partner with an existing event

In the lead up to finals week, numerous groups on campus will be hosting events to prepare students and staff. Gauge the landscape and offer to ‘Fair Trade’ another group’s event!

Reach out to clubs, departments and your food service provider to see if you can set up, sample and promote Fair Trade and availability on campus to a new audience. Don’t forget to follow up afterwards and continue building the partnership! Not sure how to approach working with dining services? Check out this helpful resource – A Guide to Working with Dining Services on Your Campus.

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Idea 3: Fuel up with Fair Trade!

A couple years back, Villanova University hosted a ‘Fuel up with Fair Trade’ event.

Approach the event as you approach Fair Trade advocacy; through the lens of partnership. Free food benefits anxious and stressed students, providing a sweet treat and an opportunity to educate. Meanwhile personal conversations helps your team develop the skills and confidence to competently speak about Fair Trade.

Learn more in this one-pager, including how to prepare, advertise, and execute the event.

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Idea 4: Hold a raffle to win an artisan item from Mayan Hands! 

In your kit, you will receive a beautiful, handmade Fair Trade artisan item from Mayan Hands, a Fair Trade nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering Mayan women in their quest to bring their families out of extreme poverty as they continue to live within the culture they cherish. Hold a raffle at your event to draw more attendees, gather email list sign-ups or social media followers, AND give students a chance to win an amazing Fair Trade prize!

Never organized a raffle before? Check out handy resource for how-to run a successful raffle!  

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Remember: Sign-up before November 8 on our Registration Form and register early! First 20 campuses to sign up will receive extra chocolate.

Event kits will be mailed on Thursday, November 16th.
If you’re hosting your event sooner, please let us know so we can get your event kit to you in time.

Questions? Please contact National Organizer Kylie Nealis at kylie@fairtradecampaigns.org.