Exploring money through Fairtrade
Teaching Materials
Unfair rules and ways of working, buying and selling exist in the world and discriminate disproportionately against people living in the Global South. These systems have their roots in colonialism when white Europeans carried out the systematic dehumanisation and oppression of different groups of people around the world, taking control by different means including political, violent, economic, cultural, social, religious and linguistic.
During colonisation, white Europeans realised the potential market for cocoa as a way of exerting power and growing their wealth. The growing of cocoa was moved from South America, where it originated, to countries in West Africa that Europeans had had already colonised. Colonial rule kept the most valuable aspects of the cocoa value chain within the hands of colonisers. Even in cases where African producers managed to own their cocoa plots, their access to cocoa processing remained limited due to high tariffs imposed on processed chocolate by colonial powers. (Read more on Beyond Beans). As a result, many financially disadvantaged African producers were compelled to sell cacao beans as low-priced commodities. This system is maintained to this day, showing how colonial power, systems and racism continue to impact the world we live in.
Today, movements, groups and organisations are working together to enable fairer systems of trade to exist which empower and protect the rights of those in the Global South who have been systematically discriminated against. Fairtrade aims to promote fairer trading conditions and empower producers to take back decision-making processes to strengthen their position and take more control over their lives.
Before you Begin
Background reading and professional learning on anti-racism maths pedagogy:
Background reading and professional learning on the cocoa industry:
- Beyond Beans: A Very Short History of Cocoa
- Racism, Representation and Decolonisation in the Cocoa Sector
- Race and Racism Animation
Maths and Numeracy Skills Progression:
↔ Swipe sideways to view all levels
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1st Level Teaching Materials
Learners consider the different people, processes and costs involved in growing ingredients, making, selling and buying chocolate. Learners explore the way in which, if they have the opportunity to make choices about spending money, they can have the power to make a positive impact.
2nd Level Teaching Materials
Learners consider who receives what in the making of a bar of chocolate and ways that systems such as Fair Trade can help to create a fairer distribution. Through exploring the benefits of the Fairtrade premium, learners look at ways farmers are empowered to make financial decisions and plan for their futures.
3rd Level Teaching Materials
Learners consider the unjust, historical system that retains the value of chocolate in the Global North. Through exploring village loan systems used by cocoa farmers in Ghana, they look at ways farmers can access income to help them mitigate against ageing cocoa trees and the effects of the climate crisis on their productivity.
4th Level Teaching Materials
Learners consider how quantitative information informs debate and how mathematical models impact everybody's lives. They experience how complicated it is to apply mathematics in authentic contexts and explore why and how we need mathematical tools if we are to be engaged and empowered as global citizens who challenge injustice.