Flanders’ Fair Trade Towns Youth Ambassadors Visit St Andrews
The Environment team hosted a group of six students from Faire Gemeente (Fair Trade Towns) in Flanders, Belgium in August, ahead of the International Fair Trade Towns Conference in Edinburgh. These young people are part of a year-long Youth Ambassador Programme where they receive training and carry out workshops to engage with and promote Fair Trade, particularly aimed at other young people in their towns.
As a University, this visit was valuable because it reflects the importance of younger generations driving ethical and sustainable change across St Andrews and beyond. The young people were interested to see what we do as a 1-star accredited Fairtrade University, as no such scheme exists for higher education institutions in Belgium.
We began with cups of Fairtrade coffee from Rector’s café at the Students’ Association. After, we explored the Fairtrade cotton products available in the Main University shop, which includes a clothing range made with fair labour and materials. We discussed the challenges of providing Fairtrade while maintaining reasonable prices for student consumers.
The group appreciated the Environment team’s upcoming giveaway competition for a lucky student to win a Fairtrade hoodie this Freshers’ Fayre. See the Environment team’s introductory Instagram post with instructions to be in with a chance!
This was followed by a discussion with the St Andrews Fair Trade Towns Group and the Environment Officer of the Students’ Environment Network.
The two Towns groups enjoyed the chance to compare their efforts, challenges, and opportunities. We considered the importance of the connection between institutions and community regarding Fairtrade. We recognised the supportive relationship between the University and the St Andrews Fair Trade Towns Group.
As many of the Youth Ambassadors were members of their local Youth Councils, we also discussed the power of communication with politicians to push for social and environmental justice within local trade.
This led to our understanding that young people are essential to engage in fair trade. The Youth Ambassadors helped to point out ways for students assist in the University’s Fairtrade efforts to achieve 2-star or higher Fairtrade status in the upcoming cycle. We agreed that engaging student School and Hall Sustainability Representatives, as well as the Students’ Environment Network’s events would be key avenues to centre Fair Trade amongst St Andrews students this year.
To round off the day, we took the Youth Ambassadors to the St AndReuse mini giveaway, highlighting the University’s efforts towards a circular and sharing economy that recognises the importance of sourcing fairly and locally, accounting for social and economic inequalities.
We are looking forward to Fairtrade Fortnight from Monday 22 September–5 October. We hope to continue working with Fair Trade Towns Flanders before the next International Fair Trade Towns Conference in 2026!
