Fair trade learning

Global educational programmes and partnerships come in many forms and iterations and with varying levels of success in bringing about positive outcomes for all stakeholders. Fair trade learning (FTL) is a global educational partnership exchange that prioritises reciprocity in relationships through cooperative, cross-cultural participation in learning, service and civil society efforts. The FTL construct also emerged through the efforts of the Association of Clubs (AOC) in Petersfield, Jamaica through a model of community tourism that prioritised participatory budgeting and community-driven development with their partner organisation, Amizade Global Service Learning. FTL promotes sustainable, reciprocal learning partnerships to the mutual benefit of the community and to the volunteers. FTL's emphasis on mutually beneficial, reciprocal community partnerships helps to address these challenges. By ensuring community input in the planning and evaluation stages of a programme, FTL allows the programme leader to discuss what is needed, and to negotiate with community leaders the parameters of what the programme can provide.