Nov 4 2010 @ 12:45

This Halloween, we took Fair Trade to the streets

This Halloween EWBers across the country were putting a different spin on the traditional “trick or treat”. Loaded down with Fair Trade chocolate, they took to the streets and went door to door – however, their goal was not to collect, but to give out their chocolate.

At each house, members offered samples of Fair Trade chocolate and shared information on how Fair Trade works and why it benefits rural farmers.

This event was a huge success across the country. 70,000 Cocoa Camino chocolates were mailed out to 84 groups across Canada, including 28 of our own chapters, who then took them door-to-door.

Taking a lesson from EWBers at the University of Calgary, a new innovation was adopted nation-wide this year. On top of handing out chocolate on Halloween, EWBers also pre-sold, at no profit, packages of Fair Trade chocolate to their neighbours, professors and deans to be given out on the 31st.

This allowed us to greatly increase the distribution of Fair Trade chocolate on Halloween and ensured that even more people learned about this great way to directly support farmers.

Rideau Hall, home of Canada’s Governor General, also participated in the event by handing out almost 2000 Fair Trade chocolates at its doors.

Below is a selection of success stories from some of our volunteers who participated in the event.

From Robyn Chatwin-Davies, Chapter President, Carleton, who handed out chocolates with the Governor General:

“I had a really great moment when a woman stopped and checked out our poster with her young daughter. So I had a chance to talk to her a little and tell her that the Governor General was handing out fair trade chocolate. And then she stopped right then and there to take the time to talk to her daughter, who was about 8, about fair trade and what it meant.”

From Annelies Tjebbes, Chapter President, UBC:

“We met a woman who when we started talking to her about EWB and Fair Trade, went into her house to grab a pen and paper and started taking notes and asking to hear more details about our African Programs.

She wanted to know how she could get involved immediately, and gave me her email address so I could send her details on our Advocacy Workshop happening next weekend that she DEFINITELY wants to be at.”

From Amy Tang, Director of Fair Trade, McMaster:

“We thought we had lost one of our volunteers along the way, only to find out that he spent 25 minutes talking to a lady about Fair Trade, EWB, and creative solutions to poverty.”

Thanks so much to everyone who participated! Through innovation and dedication you helped ensure even more people learned about the impact our purchases can have on the lives of African farmers.

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