Around the world production, trade and selling of most goods and services are increasingly concentrated under the control of a small number of companies. They decide who gets what share of the final price that consumers pay. These shares are often unfair and people do not gain equal shares but are powerless to change the situation they are in as they usually have little choice.

The choice they have is accept the low wages that they are offered or face having no job and therefore starvation.

As a result, the gap between rich and poor has increased dramatically. Today, the richest 20% of the world’s population has 60 times the income of the poorest 20%.

Fair Trade offers an alternative for those who find themselves in this unfair situation, and to those consumers who are concerned in the rich nations. Fair Trade Organisations offer to pay farmers a price that always covers at least production costs.

Fair Traders believe that their system of trade is based on respect for workers’ rights and the environment. They believe that if these principals were adopted by all companies then this would play a big part in reversing the growing differences that have accompanied the growth in world trade.

Fair Trade brings the benefits of trade into the hands of communities that need it most. Those who support Fair Trade want a global trading system that helps workers’ rights, protects the environment and helps the local producers to meet community needs.

Source: Fairtrade Foundation

Fair Trade chocolate is available in most of the major supermarket chains most commonly as the ‘Dubble’ brand and also from Oxfam in a variety of brands including Maya Gold, Divine etc. These products can be used in a number of games and activities, such as:

The Chocolate Party Game. - Played as Sixes/Patrols.

Equipment: Dice, Knifes & Forks, Gloves/Mittens.

How To Play: A member of the first team throws the dice, then one from the second team etc. The first person to throw a six rushes up to the chocolate bar and puts on the hat, gloves & scarf and tries to cut up the chocolate and eat as much of it before another person throws a six. It could be someone from their Six/Patrol or another. When another person throws a six, the first person must stop eating and take off the outfit and return to their team.

When they throw a six, team members may pass their go to a member of their team who has not yet thrown a six.

The Game finishes when the chocolate has gone.

Taste Test – Undertaken as a Lodge/Six/Patrol/Colony/Pack/Troop or Unit

Obtain bars of a Supermarket own brand Milk Chocolate, Fair Trade Milk Chocolate, Galaxy & Dairy Milk, milk chocolate and have a blind tasting session. See who can tell which is which and which sample people prefer.

Fair Trade Survey – Done as Patrols/Units

Undertake a survey of local shops and see which sell Fairly Traded goods and which goods they sell/how many products. Following on from this you can lobby the managers of the local Supermarkets to stock Fairly traded goods such as Coffee, Tea, Cocoa, Honey, Chocolate, Bananas etc. Also you can see how many shoppers know about Fair Trade goods and how many would buy them if they were available.