Pupils launch petition to provide Fairtrade bananas in schools

Screenshot from the film

Pupils at a Catholic primary school in Surrey have launched a campaign to persuade the government to provide fair-trade bananas in all schools.

In a video, members of the International Club at St Peter's Primary School in Leatherhead, point out that every day, around 2.3 million children aged 4-7 in state-funded UK schools receive a free piece of fruit through the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme (SFVS) funded by the Department of Health. But they note that none of the bananas included in the scheme are Fairtrade. This means that the people who pick them are probably not being paid properly or working under fair conditions.

The International Club has written letters to local MPs urging them to act on this issue. The school has also set up a petition on their behalf, asking the government to make sure all bananas provided in schools are Fairtrade.

See the video here: https://vimeo.com/786237935?1

Please sign their petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/619553

The International Club needs 10,000 signatures for it to be debated in parliament so please feel free to share their petition far and wide also!

LINK

St Peter's Catholic Primary School, Leatherhead has already been awarded 'Fair Active' School's Status, which is Level 2 of the Fairtrade Schools Award. This award recognises the actions that they have taken to promote Fairtrade in their school.

For more information see: www.stpeters-leatherhead.co.uk/page/?title=Fairtrade&pid=440