Bruges, Belgium
Population: 117,000
Declaration date: 24th May 2008
Bruges Fair Trade Gemeenten

The campaign started when an Oxfam Shop volunteer approached the clerk of the local department of Development Coöperation. The strategy was to gain support from the Council who would then spread the Fairtrade message to citizens. The Council resolution was approved in May 2006 and they agreed to only serve Fairtrade drinks (coffee, tea, wine and orange juice) for receptions and events held in Bruges.  A Steering Group, made up of representatives from different departments of the local government (Youth, Environment, Development Coöperation) and volunteers of NGO’s (Oxfam, 11.11.11, Wereldsolidarity, FOS) was formed to lead the campaign and work on the remaining four goals required to achieve status.

Since the formation of the Steering Group regular activities and events have taken place to reach out to the community such as:

Schools
•    A fair trade quest through the centre of Bruges with lots of to-do-activities
•    Fair trade workshops in the classroom
•    Fair trade theatre in cultural centres,
•    Regular fair trade discussions and role play for the youth

Shoppers
•    Fair trade recipe competition contest
•    Fair trade wine tasting workshop
•    Exhibition in library
•    Presentations about fair trade in assemblies
•    Cooking demonstrations with Fairtrade products on the weekly market
•    An ongoing promotion campaign including publication of brochures, posters and leaflets, coasters given to fair trade pubs and used at events and a Bruges Fair Trade Town website.

The Fair Trade Happening
This was held in the centre of Bruges on 24th May 2008 to celebrate the declaration of Bruges as a Fair Trade Town and promote Fairtrade and Fairtrade products to both residents and tourists. There was a Fairtrade children’s parade lead by a famous Belgian TV-presenter, Fairtrade food and drink available in the market square, concerts, Fairtrade games and children’s animations, a fair trade fashion show, a Fairtrade bollo smito, a Fairtrade flower exhibition and playful action around the Clean Clothes Campaign. View the video here

Top Tips
•    Organise very directed creative activities focused on your target group such as:
-   For consumers organize cooking courses using Fairtrade ingredients in the recipes.
-   For schools offer teachers a local Fair Trade Quiz, but ensure that you have done all the work. The less preparation needed by the teachers the more willing they are to use the activity in their classroom.
-   For pubs who serve Fairtrade drinks give free publicity on a local website, in magazines or other publications used to promote your Fair Trade town.

•    Use national (or international) campaign days, which have already attracted a lot of media attention to promote your Fairtrade activity, for example Fair Trade Week, National Week of Taste and International World Food Day.

•    Involve local government (especially specific departments) in your campaign.  They have good contacts and influence with local youth clubs, schools, assemblies of local shops, pubs and businesses and other sectors of the community