Church schools in Leeds and Wakefield areas have been celebrating Fairtrade and learning about footballs and the World Cup at the same time.
Pupils from Horbury Bridge and Kirkstall St Stephens C of E Primary Schools are in the foreground of the photograph taken outside Leeds Civic Hall where the annual event took place.
Run in partnership with Leeds DEC , an educational charity, and Fairtrade Leeds it featured special guest Angus Coull from Bala Fairtrade Sports balls. Pupils had a go at making their own footballs and learnt how Fairtrade now benfits football workers in Pakistan.
Other special guests included Hilary Benn MP who said it was a “Fantastic event” and the Lord Mayor of Leeds Cllr Graham Latty. Stalls were run by The Beehive Fairtrade shop, Europe Direct and Leeds DEC.
“We loved the chocolate tasting” said Linda Kelly from Otley All Saints school.”There were new flavours we’d not tasted before.”
Jo Bailey of Kirkstall St Stephens said, “We liked the banana workshop, eating chocolate, speakers and the activities and workshops”
“We liked the fun activities”, said Letti from Horbury Bridge Academy. “It was great to have children leading, ‘cos children know what other children want!”
“It is particularly important that we focus on the people who create the footballs during this World Cup, who often are paid low wages for the hours of work they put into stitching the balls together” said Hannah Langdana, from Leeds DEC.