Rhön-Grabfeld celebrates a year Fairtrade: Education for a just world!

Rhön-Grabfeld celebrates a year Fairtrade: Education for a just world!

In the Rhön-Grabfeld district, the one-year anniversary is celebrated as a Fairtrade district this autumn. The official recognition in 2023 marked the beginning of numerous initiatives that aim to promote awareness of fair trade and sustainable consumption. With various events and projects, the district actively worked on the sensitization of the population.

The students of the Hollstadt-Wollbach primary school have been given the opportunity to explore various aspects of fair trade. In January 2024 they visited the Bad Neustadt world shop, where trading expert Norbert Dietzel brought them closer to the conditions in cocoa cultivation. This offered the children a valuable perspective on global inequalities, while other students in the Pecht Shopping World got an insight into the production chain of clothing.

educational projects and awards

The district initiated a comprehensive educational program in 2024 that includes over ten schools and deals with the question: "How fair is the world?" These projects not only promote understanding of social justice, but also the commitment of the students in the field of sustainable consumption. A highlight was the awarding of the "Class with Future" award in July 2024. Four schools that were particularly out of the question were honored for their commitment to Fairtrade. In addition, global shops in Lower Franconia have contributed "to change the world together" with their challenge.

In April 2024, a workshop for multipliers of fair trade in cooperation with the adult education centers is offered. The interactive approach of the "world game" will help the participants to better understand complex economic relationships. Teachers and those interested in education are particularly mentioned, who are to be further trained by these measures.

creativity in focus: photo competition and cooking event

A photo competition under the motto "act fair - participate and help shape" should stimulate the creativity of the young people. Unfortunately, despite good ideas, the response remained behind the expectations. The organizers are now considering how they can better respond to the younger target group in the future to achieve higher participation.

The year ends with the "Bio-Regional Fair" cook event in November 2024, which is to be celebrated as a culinary highlight. At this event, the participants have the opportunity to prepare a three-course menu and get to know the advantages of organic regional and fairly traded products. After the success of the first cooking event in the previous year, the event should be part of the regional educational concept.

In its outlook on the coming years, the district confirms that the commitment to Fairtrade should be expanded. You want to motivate more people to actively work for a fairer world and thus to anchor the ideals of fair trade even more in society.