The Saarbrücken Regional Association still officially carries the "Fairtrade Region" seal awarded by Fairtrade Germany. The criteria that must be met have been reviewed every two years since the first official award in 2016. Regional Association Director Peter Gillo: "The Regional Association is an important part of the Fairtrade movement in the fight for fairer and more sustainable living conditions in other parts of the world. The renewed award is an incentive to further advance the topic of fair trade. Especially since many activities could only take place to a limited extent over the past two years due to the coronavirus pandemic." As one of the largest school sponsors in the southwest, the Regional Association also brings the Fairtrade idea into schools and educational institutions. Seven schools in the area of the Regional Association, including five secondary schools under its own sponsorship, are already so-called Fairtrade Schools. The latest member is the Friedrich-List-Schule – Commercial Vocational Training Center Saarbrücken, which received its award at the beginning of 2021. In addition, more than 100 school classes have been recognized as Fairtrade classes so far. Every year, around 18,000 students receive their textbooks in Fairtrade organic cotton bags with informational inserts about fair trade. Furthermore, new lease agreements for school kiosks and cafeterias include a clause requiring the availability of one warm Fairtrade beverage and another Fairtrade product in their offerings. And the students themselves also carry the Fairtrade spirit forward: under the motto "Bake a better place," for example, last year the aspiring bakers of the Technical-Vocational Training Center II created chocolate muffins for the student body using only fair ingredients. In the Regional Association's youth centers, baking with fair ingredients for friends and family took place during the Christmas season. The Regional Association also sets a good example in many other places. In addition to several Fairtrade coffee machines in Regional Association office buildings, there is also a Fair-o-mat in the Old Town Hall at Schlossplatz, which operates without electricity. Moreover, a variety of fair trade snacks are available at the entrance area of the Social and Youth Office on Europaallee in Saarbrücken. Since 2004, only Fairtrade coffee, cocoa, and sugar have been used in the Saarbrücken castle’s gastronomy. At the Oberthal school country home, sponsored by the Regional Association, only Fairtrade coffee is served and fair rice is cooked. Anyone wishing to get involved themselves or who has questions about fair trade can contact the Fairtrade representative of the Regional Association, Heike Erbelding, at 0681 506-1001 or by email at heike.erbelding@rvsbr.de. Further information at
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