Pictured: the Peter Paul Candelaria and Peter Paul Sorsogon teams doing team bonding activities at their Fair Trade Committee meeting
Fair Trade Community Development Funds are additional financial resources provided to workers at every Fair Trade Certified™ factory and farm—and are managed by democratically elected members of the workforce. These funds are invested in projects designed to benefit their communities, which address a wide-range of needs including education, nutrition programs, improved infrastructure, business opportunities, and more.
Fair Trade Coconuts drive Community Development
Peter Paul Candelaria and Peter Paul Sorsogon are two organizations that harvest and manufacture coconut products in the Philippines and have been Fair Trade Certified for over 10 years. They meet annually to discuss how they are using their Community Development Funds, share best practices and opportunities for improvement, and connect on future plans. These meetings are critical, as they bring together Fair Trade Committees: the workers who discuss and vote on how to spend the funds and reflect on how funds have been previously allocated.
This year, both organizations are hoping to start projects that reinvest Community Development Funds to create new streams of income. They invited speakers in project management, finance and taxes, and meeting facilitation to help generate ideas and offer advice.
The meeting was a great opportunity for both groups and brought about new ideas, as well as reflections on how far both have come since joining Fair Trade. When workers first met years ago, they were more hesitant to ask questions or to share in a group. Today’s meetings are lively and filled with workers speaking up to share their ideas and perspectives. At this meeting, one group even presented a dance in between sessions.
A decade of Certification Supporting a Generation of Students
More than a decade of Fair Trade Certification means that both manufacturers are well-versed in planning the use of Community Development Funds for meaningful projects. Funds have been used to help families cover school costs, set aside reserves for disaster relief, provide burial assistance, and offer loans to community members starting their own businesses. Now, they are looking to expand their skills in project evaluation—so that they can identify where funds are best spent, and analyze the success of previous projects.
Education has been a community priority from the start, and several students have been supported from secondary school all the way through college. Committees shared photos of these students, who are now looking back on how the funds helped them reach significant milestones. Salvador, Janedyl Mando, holds a sign that reads:
“Because of coconut, I achieved my Diploma.”
Fair Trade Community Development Funds are a key part of our model that empower communities around the globe and uplift workers to take the lead on impactful projects of their choosing. Peter Paul Candelaria and Peter Paul Sorsogon are incredible examples of how funds can be used long-term, and the potential to continue expanding spending opportunities.
For more on how communities are using Community Development Funds, explore other stories from our blog.