27 February – Waverley Court

On Thursday 27 February, with the great support of Edinburgh Council Procurement team, the Edinburgh Fair Trade City Steering Group are running an event at Waverley Court 5-7pm, of interest to anyone wishing to support and promote fair trade. We have a cocoa producer, Leocadie Voho, CAPEDIG Fairtrade cocoa cooperative, from Cote d’Ivoire speaking on this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight theme, “She Deserves”, and will also have presentations from Bala Sport, Koolskools and Pacari Chocolate.

The approximate timing is:
– 5pm: Formal opening,
– 5.05-5.25: Leocadie Voho, cocoa producer presentation
– 5.30-5.50: Bala Sport presentation
– 5.55-6.15: Koolskools presentation
– 6.20: Pacari chocolate presentation

Free Fairtrade refreshments will be available (bring your own sustainable mug if you have one!) and there will be a small Fairtrade market with goods from:
– Bala Sport (sports balls)
– Hadeel (Palestinian crafts)
– Koolskools (uniforms)
– One World Shop
– Pacari Chocolate
– Yho Yho (backpacks)
– Scotmid
– Rafiki Coffee

Plus an information stall with a range of fair trade information and the launch of the Edinburgh Fairtrade City Steering Group informational leaflet.

Please register here so that we can ensure a badge is prepared for you.

29 February – Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge

On Saturday 29 February we are very grateful to have the Lord Provost formally open our Fairtrade Fortnight Flagship event, which we are organising in conjunction with the Fairtrade Foundation on the “She Deserves” theme. The event will commence at 11am, and after the Lord Provost’s opening we will have brief speeches from:

-Leocadie Voho, cocoa producer, CAPEDIG Fairtrade cocoa cooperative (Côte d’Ivoire).
– Adjoa Andoh, actress, director and patron of the Fairtrade Foundation.
– Jackie Kay CBE, poet, novelist, Scots Makar.
– Followed by a panel discussion including the above plus
– Twimukye Macline Mushaka, Senior Fieldwork Development Officer, the Poverty Alliance.
– Amy Oroko, Sustainability Manager, Matthew Algie Coffee.
– Lesley Orr, historian and theologian at the University of Edinburgh, activist for gender and social justice.

After the talks, there will be a chance for you to meet the panellists and find out more about Fairtrade and the Edinburgh Fairtrade City Steering Group over chocolate refreshments and Fairtrade tea/coffee.

This event is part of the Fairtrade Fortnight “She Deserves” campaign that aims to highlight the stories of the women farmers behind the £4 billion UK chocolate industry who are, against the odds, becoming role models and successful businesswomen in their local communities in West Africa.

Our guest speaker from Côte d’Ivoire, Leocadie Voho, will tell us about her journey to becoming a leader in her community and the difference that Fairtrade has made. Leocadie’s talk will be set against a broader discussion on gender equality across all sectors of society, with our inspirational panellists discussing the importance of ensuring women’s stories are told, their voices heard and their experiences understood.

The panel will be chaired by Rachel Farey (Business Manager at the One World Shop and Vice-Chair of the Scottish Fair Trade Forum).