What Can You Do?

It may seem daunting, but you can make a difference in the lives of poor people thousands of miles away. You might not realize it, but you, as a consumer have a great deal of power. Here are some things you can do to make a positive difference in the lives of impoverished people in developing countries.

Make Your Town a Fair Trade Town
What are some of the things that you as a consumer can do?

1. Make sure whenever you buy coffee that it is Fair Trade certified coffee. You can buy Fair Trade coffee online or at many small, independent coffee shops.
2. Ask your local coffee shop for Fair Trade coffee
3. Write letters to your local supermarkets and ask them to carry Fair Trade products such as coffee, chocolate, tea, and bananas. Some stores have forms you can fill out to request new products. Ask them to carry Fair Trade coffee, chocolate, and fruit/bananas.
4. Set up Fair Trade Sales with your school or religious organization. Many churches, synagogues, and other religious organizations frequently sell fair trade goods on an informal basis to their parishioners as part of their social responsibility missions. Some colleges hold annual Fair Trade sales whereby they sell Fair Trade goods. These sales help to raise awareness about the concept of Fair Trade, as well as introducing the general public to Fair Trade goods.