Big Fairtrade Fortnight Online Get Together – Thursday 9^th March 2023

Responding to an email request from Stefan Donnelly at the Fairtrade Foundation for descriptions of what type of events Wycombe For Fairtrade organized over Fairtrade Fortnight, Mike King, the Wycombe For Fairtrade Chairman, was asked to speak about the main highlight and activities surrounding the visit of Ambassador Rafael Ortiz Fabrega from the Embassy of Costa Rica to High Wycombe on Monday 6^th March 2023. Organizing these events to bring together different stakeholders was an interesting challenge and involved a great deal of collaboration and liaison.

Agreed events for this incredible day of the visit on Monday 6^th March included: –

• Greeted the Ambassador and the Economic Consul at the railway station and escorted them to the High Wycombe Council Chamber building.
• Met with and greeted the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of High Wycombe, Wycombe For Fairtrade Steering Group members, and Wayne and Sarah Coetzee, co-owners of Roast Lab, a local, independent, micro-roastery who roasted the green coffee beans.
• Ambassador Ortiz engaged in a live Zoom meeting with Directors of CoopeVictoria Fairtrade coffee and sugar cooperative and the Deputy Mayor of Grecia.
• Ceremoniously cut the Grecia – High Wycombe Fairtrade Towns Partnership Celebration cake with the Mayor of High Wycombe, Arif Hussain.
• The Wycombe Mayors laid on a lavish lunch for the Ambassador and guests.
• Conveyed the Ambassador of Costa Rica and the Economic Consul and Mayors of High Wycombe along with five Wycombe For Fairtrade Steering Group members to Highcrest Academy where Ambassador Ortiz: –
• Met and greeted senior teachers and the Head Boy and Girl.
• Delivered a 15-minute Powerpoint presentation about Costa Rican culture, geography, history, ecology, and the natural environment.
• Presented the Grecia – High Wycombe Fairtrade Towns Partnership plague to the Mayor of High Wycombe. The Mayor in turn presented the Grecia –plaque to Highcrest Academy for their incorporation of Fairtrade into the curriculum, and for their outstanding work in establishing a strong and continually developing link with liaison, videos, projects, and joint lessons with pupils at the Colegio Experimental Bilingue de Grecia.
• In co-ordination with Mike King, Ambassador Ortiz officially launched the Grecia – High Wycombe Fairtrade Towns Partnership Celebration Coffee with single-origin green beans supplied by CoopeVictoria and roasted locally by Roast Lab, a small, independent, micro-roaster near Gerrards Cross.
• This medium-roasted arabica coffee was then sampled by teachers and some pupils, accompanied by the delicious Central American snack – “pan de elote”, a type of corncake.
• Photographs and interviews with Bucks Free Press journalist. The whole event was recorded live by the Highcrest Academy Computer Technician.
• Farewells and goodbyes at 4 15 pm.

Towards the end of the Big Fairtrade Fortnight Get Together, responders used the Zoom chat box to give their opinions and comments. After my 5 – minute resume of the Ambassador’ s visit, one responder stated, “That’s amazing work in High Wycombe – Inspirational.”

It was an extraordinary day, which all stakeholders involved could justifiably be proud.

Mike King,
Chairman, Wycombe For Fairtrade