Sarah Kennedy,
volunteer Fairtrade campaigner (21)
I became interested in Fairtrade when I worked at a supermarket during my A-levels, although only started campaigning when I started at Bristol University. As a student, campaigning can be quite hard work as you have to fit everything you do around your studies and trying to have a normal social life. However it is also very rewarding and fun, and it’s encouraging when your peers start to pay attention and get behind the campaign.
Fairtrade Fortnight is always one of our busiest periods with campaigning, and we usually try to have at least five major events to raise awareness of trade issues and how students can get involved. These events have included club nights, publicity stunts, poster campaigns and speaker events. Bristol University has now achieved Fairtrade status, which took 18 months of activism.
We are also establishing a national Student Fairtrade Coalition, which we hope will draw together all the student activists and people working towards making trade fair in their universities or colleges. This will provide a space where all student campaigners can share what they have learnt, and any resources they have produced, in order to improve nationwide student campaigning.
I want to work in the NGO/voluntary sector when I graduate, and my experiences as a student campaigner have proved invaluable. You learn so much about the issues, and how different organisations run successful campaigns, as well as getting practice at doing it yourself! Our Fairtrade Society is also a really great place to meet like-minded people, gain valuable skills, and work out whether a career in charity or campaigning work is for you.
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