Fairtrade Fortnight ended in Framlingham with tea party visit from Kenyan tea farmer

Patrick kaberia muthaura visits Framlingham library for a fairtrade tea party as part of fairtrade fortonight Pictured with Lesley clouting library manager, lj loftus, of fairtrade foundation and Steph bennell of Framlingham fairtrade group

Around 40 people turned out to the event, at Framlingham Library, to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight and hear Patrick’s story.

Steph Bennell, of the Friends of Framlingham Library which organised the event, said: “The tea party was thoroughly enjoyed. It was inspiring to hear from Patrick first hand of the way Fairtrade has transformed the lives of those 10,000 smallholder tea farmers and their families in his community.

“Using Fairtrade principles to grow their tea means they have gender equality, no child labour, no harmful chemicals and are caring for their environment.

“The Fairtrade premium they receive has enabled them to build a maternity hospital now nearing completion, a school and a tree planting programme to reverse the damage done to their environment be excessive tree felling.

“What they need now is to have a bigger market share for Fairtrade tea, as they cannot sell all the certified crop they grow as the demand is not there.

“We, the end consumers, have the power to bring lasting benefits to farmers like Patrick simply by choosing to buy Fairtrade.”