Fair trade

Support and advice for worldshops and action groups, information and educational work on fair trade

Forum of development policy initiatives in Bremerhaven

By means of educational measures related to development policy, through public relations work, and by cooperating in projects in southern countries, the Werkhof e.V. Darmstadt contributes to the fight against poverty and inequality, which are increasing worldwide. We believe that our own society has to change ecologically and economically if we are to have a world that can survive into the future. A fundamental change in thinking is necessary, particularly in rich regions.

A tremendous amount of money is made despite the global problems of migration, unemployment, threats to democracy and human rights, hunger, war, environmental destruction. In fact, there has never been as much financial capital as there is today, which is a result of what appears to be the only important fundamental value in society: "Maximize profit through any possible means". The consequences of this catastrophic development and the incalculable risks concern everyone.

For these reasons, we are particularly involved in activities within our own society, where we especially work with young people, both in and outside of school. Within the scope of our promotion of education and
awareness, it is of special importance to us to reach youths and the professionals working with them. With our long-term project 'Free trade – fair trade?' we try to draw young people's attention to the worldwide
interdependencies in all areas of life, but especially to the unequal conditions on the world economy and the possible consequences of globalisation.

Overview of our work:

• Basic workshops (radio broacasting) for young people and educators (14 years and older)
• Our "world economy and us" simulation and other games on development policy (15 years and older)
• Media packages

The office of information Nicaragua is one of the oldest organizations of the Nicaraguan solidarity movement. The history of the office of information was until the 90s closely related with the economyof the solidarity movement to Central America and especially to Nicaragua. Today our work concentrates on the area of development education  and information for Latin America and on thecooperation and support of base initiatives in Nicaragua. We provide information, publish publications, provide educational materials, maintain a third world archive, mediate examiners, organize visits with Latin-American activists and organize actions, series of events, school workshops and seminars. Within the framework of several projects educational materials were developed on subjects like economy, migration, climate change and environmental justice, human rights and social movements as well as colonialism and racism. Besides the educational materials we also offer disseminator courses. For several years we also offer successful workshops on the above mentioned subjects for young people . We use interactive and participative exercises of global learning, so that young people can approach appropriately to the subject of the workshops. Moreover we refer to the interests and experiences of the participants and put a main focus on the learning. Our work focuses on fun, the connections with the life and reality of young people, reflection as well as the ability to own judgment and action.

The north church promotes, the church overseas development service, projects in Asia, Africa and Latin America. In this way making a contribution to more global justice is shown. At the same time the church wants to promote a critical understanding for the global, economic, social, political and ecological influences that shape our lives. The educational offer of the church overseas development service has the aim to understand the interconnection among our own life and of people all over the world. Together with others the church wants to create a worldwide social change through the communication of abilities, settings and values. We want to connect people and promote their engagement supporting a fairer and more sustainable world. Our aid programs are available for church and non-church groups and initiatives in Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Schleswig-Holstein. Every two years the north church announces the "one world price". This price honors initiatives, groups, church municipalities or individuals for their engagement. The theological bases, definitions, structures and quality criterions of the educational work are summarized in the concept for the development educational work of the north church.

ELAN is an association of organizations committed to development policy. Its members range from small solidarity groups, aid organizations, and "Weltläden" (Fair Trade stores) to working groups, youth associations. and networks. Overall, about 400 groups from Rhineland-Palatinate are organized in this statewide network. ELAN's work in development policy is very diverse. The main focus is on: Fair Trade, partnerships, campaigns, Local Agenda 21, as well as globalization and its effects in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere.

As a parent organization, ELAN is responsible for networking development policy initiatives within the state. Through publications or the Internet, its member organizations receive information about current subjects, activities, and campaigns and participate in discussion forums. The dialog between ELAN and the state government gives significance to the diverse aspects of the work related to development policy in the state. The ELAN office in Mainz coordinates the educational and public relations work and assists member organizations with projects.

To secure a viable future for people, animals, and in fact the whole planet, a new course must be set in global politics. Hence, the following principles determine the work of ELAN:

1. A more just, permanently inhabitable world can only be achieved if everyone is granted the right to live, and people can live in dignity and in a socially secure environment.
2. It makes sense to network efforts. In order to critically observe and monitor the process of economic networking and monopolization, both governments and NGOs must cooperate worldwide.
3. Democracy must be strengthened because informed citizens identify undesirable developments early on. They should not feel at the mercy of their governments, and they should assume responsibility for the preservation of the basic living conditions worldwide through their commitment to sustainable development.