Saarbrücken, Saarland
Germany’s first Fairtrade Town
Population: 187,000
Declaration date: 2nd April 2009
www.fairtrade-towns.de

Two local grassroots supporters (known as “the Fairy Team“) had been running two campaigns “Saarland handles fair” (2002 – 2008) and “Saarbonne – Fair & Bio Coffee for our Region Saar” (2003 – 2005) since 2002. Both of these campaigns involved working hard with the media and town council to promote fair trade. They were aware of the international Fairtrade Towns campaign, so when Transfair Germany considered launching a national campaign in 2008 there was already a strong foundation of support in place and Saarbrücken had already met the criteria needed to become a Fairtrade Town.

The “Fairy Team” is made up of 20 committed volunteers who all belong to one of the four local fairtrade-organisations [Weltladen, FairHandelsZentrum, VerbraucherZentrale, Netzwerk Entwicklungspolitik im Saarland]. They were the original workforce behind the campaign and still are. ‘The Fairy Team’ run about 100 activities each year through festivals, shops, schools, councils and churches etc. in order to reach out to the different sectors within the community. A Steering Group representing 16 different organisations was set up January 2009.

Top Tips

• Ensure there is continuity and real commitment
• If a proposal to an external partner or institution doesn’t work out as hoped, never, never despair … at some stage later, the time will come for that idea to be accepted and fulfilled.