University students from across Australia are kicking off their winter break in Hobart from 19-21 July with the annual Fairly Educated Conference, uniting Fairtrade businesses, retailers and advocates to grow the Fairtrade movement in universities.
The Fairly Educated Conference, currently in its fourth year, is being coordinated this year by a group of students from the University of Tasmania, who were selected ahead of other competing universities. The conference is focussed on educating students about ethical purchasing choices and providing them with the opportunity to hear stories first-hand about the impact of Fairtrade on farmers and communities.
Stephanie Woollard, founder and director of Seven Women, a fairtrade social enterprise which empowers disabled women in Nepal through micro enterprise, will be talking to conference delegates about her work in Nepal and the impact of our purchasing choices on the world’s poor.
In light of the recent media stories of the exploitation of workers in garment factories in Bangladesh, the conference will feature presentations from Fairtrade business leaders from companies such as 3fish, Heart of Chocolate and Jasper Coffee highlighting their commitment to ethical products without the exploitation of people or the environment. This provides the perfect opportunity for attendees to learn from leading ethical businesses in Australia about how they can encourage their universities to make more informed purchasing decisions.
The conference also involves local, sustainable and ethical businesses in Hobart, with Pickled Pear providing local Tasmanian food for conference delegates and Tasman Quartermasters catering for the quiz night on Saturday July 20.
Local ethical coffee retailer, Villino, is also getting on board by running a coffee workshop for delegates to demonstrate the art of coffee making and talk about their passion for sourcing ethical and sustainable coffee. The coffee workshop will be held from 3pm on Friday 19 July and will include a Q and A session with delegates.
A primary focus of the conference is on local, ethical and sustainable businesses and retailers, with organisers aiming to create a real connection to the people behind the products we purchase. Conference convenor, UTAS student Laura Sykes, said “one of the key aims of this conference is to have a real grassroots connection to the field and the people behind the products we buy, and we are so excited to have some amazing speakers from Fairtrade organisations across Australia to share these stories with us.”
Other key aspects of the conference include a Sustainability Festival open to the public on Friday 19 July, a Fairtrade scavenger hunt, and also the chance for delegates to win a free trip to Nepal to visit Fairtrade producers.
For further information, please contact Laura Sykes at conference@fairlyeducated.com or visit www.fairlyeducatedconference.com