IT Sligo will show its support for third world producers by joining the ‘Show Off Your Label Campaign’ during Fairtrade Fortnight next Tuesday, March 8th.
A group of 4th year Marketing students, along with their lecturer Dr Catherine McGuinn, have organised a number of events to highlight the importance of Fairtrade and the manner in which their goods are produced and sold.
A member of a Fairtrade coffee Coop in Guatemala,Miguel Mateo, will visit the Institute to share his experiences from a producer’s viewpoint. Miguel was born in 1973 in a small village located in Barillas, a municipality in the Guatemalan department of Huehuetenango. For the past 15 years he has been working with small‐scale farmers, most of whom are coffee farmers, and since September 2006 he has been part of the Manos Campesinas co‐operative team, managing the sales of the various organizations that are members of Manos Campesinas and also managing the finances related to this area.
A reception will be held with Fairtrade representatives on Tuesday, March 8th from 10am in the Main Reception area and Miguel Mateo will give a presentation in A0004 at 11am. The students will also present the findings of a questionnaire they conducted relating to amongst the general public and the IT Sligo community.
IT Sligo was awarded a Fairtrade badge in February 2010 and Fairtrade products are sold in all the Institute canteens. This recognition is evaluated annually.
Peter Gaynor, Executive Director with Fairtrade Mark Ireland said; “It’s good to remember that people in Ireland continue to support initiatives like Fairtrade. Volunteer groups all around the country have committed their time over many years and we are delighted with how sales are holding up and even still growing in the teeth of the recession.”
For further information please email: S00073523@nullmail.itsligo.ie
IT Sligo Marketing lecturer Dr Catherine McGuinn, and students Aurélie Jambin and Julien Maurice.
