Report on 6th World Fair Trade Day Celebration

Fair Trade Group (FTG) Nepal

School Children's Post Card Competition on 5th May, 2007

“Kids need Fair Trade”. With this theme, Fair trade Group Nepal celebrated the 6th World Fair Trade Day by organizing a School Children’s Post Card Competition. Fair Trade Group (FTG) Nepal being the country Coordinator of IFAT in-country members in Nepal organized this event in Nepal to ensure Nepal’s representation in the international contest. This event was supported by Embassy of Finland, Kathmandu.

First prize winner of postcard competition Miss Aayushna Joshi, 11 years old recieving her prize

More than 800 entries from 15 participating Schools of Kathmandu and Lalitpur and 8 member organizations from Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Pokhara were received. Mr. Prem Man Chitrakar, Senior Artist and Mr. Sunil Chitrakar, Executive Director, Mahaguthi selected top 50 postcards and 5 winners.  The top 50 postcards were displayed with wining post cards during the prize distribution ceremony. Around 150 invitees were present. The invitees were Principals, art teachers and students from 15 participating school, representatives and participants from the 14 member organizations, high ranked government official, diplomats from development agencies and media people.

The program started with welcome song presented by the students of Kumbeshwar Technical School. Ms. Padmasana Shakya, Chair, FTG Nepal highlighted about the importance of Fair Trade during her welcome speech. While Ms. Nina Shahi, Coordinator, FTG Nepal presented the history of World Fair Trade Day including this year's theme and events.  Mr. Prem Man Chitrakar, jury member provided information on how the selection was done. The Chief Guest, Mr. Ananda Raj Pokharel, Chief District Officer of Lalitpur distributed the certificates and cash prizes of Rs. 8000, Rs. 6000, Rs, 4000 to three winners and consolation prize of Rs. 1000 to two winners respectively. The Chief Guest spoke about UN convention on child rights and Nepal Government’s policy on child labour. He also acknowledged and praised FTG Nepal's efforts to discourage child labour.

Winning Post Cards

International Documentary Show on Fair Trade

12th May, 2007

FTG Nepal organized one day International Documentary Show on Fair Trade to mark World Fair Trade Day at Yala Maya Kendra, Patandhoka, Lalitpur on 12th May, 2007. This event was partially supported by DHL Express Nepal Pvt. Ltd. This documentary show was organized to educate the general public as well as policy makers about the need of Fair Trade in developing countries for poverty alleviation and sustainable development.  

The best 6 documentaries namely, "The Power of Trading Fairly", "Making Poverty History with Fair Trade Fashion", "Fair Mind Fair Trade", "No More Dead Season", "Fair Trade in Development" and "Towards the self dependency" produced by FTG Nepal were shown in 3 phases during the show. The documentaries featured Fair Trade practices in different countries of the world like Nepal, Kenya, Guatemala, Bangladesh, Japan, India, the Netherlands and Philippines. Around 140 people belonging to different sectors like INGOs/NGOs, private enterprises, member organizations and students from different schools and colleges were present in the show. The main highlight of the program was the interaction with the audiences at the end of the each session, where audiences put up queries related to fair trade and documentary.

Acknowledgement  

FTG Nepal would like to extend its sincere gratitude to

1. Embassy of Finland for providing the financial support for the School Children's Post Card Competition

2. DHL Express for sponsoring the International Documentary Show

3. Ten Thousand Villages , USA  for the documentary “ The Power of Trading Fairly "

4. People Tree, Japan  for the documentary " Making Poverty History with Fair Trade Fashion"

5. Fair Trade Danmark, Denmark  for the  documentary " Fair Mind Fair Trade"

6. Alter Trade Group, Philippines for the  documentary " No More Dead Season"

7. DAWS, The Netherlands for the  documentary "Fair Trade in Development"

8. Tradicraft, UK for the  documentary "Transforming Trade Transforming Lives"

9. GEPA , Germany for the documentary "Fair forever – 30 Jahre gepa"

10.  IRFT, India for the  documentary " Fair Trade – The Indian Story"