Catholic College Makes Coffee Count
As the saying goes, knowledge is power. For campuses across the country this statement could not ring more true for schools that are leading the way in fair trade education and activism. At the forefront of this movement we see Catholic universities taking charge and playing a key role in this global effort.
CRS Student Ambassadors are key leaders in promoting fair trade on campus.
Among the top campuses leading the way is Providence College located in Providence, Rhode Island. From CRS Fair Trade Sales during the holidays to educational events throughout the year, the college supports fair trade and many other CRS initiatives.
Deeply rooted in their Catholic, Dominican tradition, interest in fair trade stemmed from student’s desire to live out their faith and learn about its connection to the global economy, specifically when it came to coffee. “Students were gaining interest in the realm of economic development,” says Magali Garcia-Pletsch, Program Coordinator at the Feinstein Institute, “…they wanted to explore the connection between the coffee business and fair trade.”
As a result, students traveled to Nicaragua to see coffee production first-hand and deepen their understanding of fair trade principles. As part of this course trip students participated in the Blue Harvest Project, a coffee and watershed project led by CRS staff, which involved permaculture and plant diversification. Gabriella Sanchez, a Global Studies and Spanish double major, was among the students who participated in the trip:
“As part of the global studies program, we defined what it means to be a global citizen. You think it means only understanding other places and culture, but it also means understanding how my actions in the United States affect people across the globe. I’m learning how to be more conscious in my own hometown.”
Sales from this local Dunkin Donuts on campus are donated to CRS.
Providence College’s involvement in coffee runs even deeper on campus. One unique aspect of its fair trade work is an agreement with their local Dunkin Donuts. While the push for Dunkin Donuts had strong student support, Providence administration wanted to ensure that Dunkin Donuts operated on campus with a positive social impact. As a stipulation, the campus ministry and administration created an agreement requiring Dunkin Donuts to donate 100% of its commission to the CRS Fair Trade Fund, allowing CRS to have an even larger impact on its programs overseas. Although Dunkin Donuts does not solely sell fair trade, the revenue generated from the arrangement has provided $20,000 annually towards CRS’ programs to strengthen artisan and farmer organizations overseas. Two recent projects included the rebuilding of Nepalese craft workshops destroyed by the earthquake and renovations to olive wood workshops in the Holy Land.
Representatives from Providence College and CRS sign the Dunkin Donuts agreement.
While there may still be much work to do to increase the awareness and engagement of fair trade, efforts of the students and administration at Providence College is commendable. The fair trade movement continues to gain momentum on campus as does its commitment to economic justice. The school has made a great impact both locally and globally and it shows in its student’s commitment to service and justice throughout Providence and around the world.
