Buy a bag of rice and change a life!

People in Orkney are being asked to buy a bag of rice and change a life.

Students at Kirkwall Grammar School – under the guidance of Religious Moral and Philosophical Studies teacher, Theo Ogbhemhe – have taken on the 90kg rice challenge to give a helping hand to Malawian farmers and their families.

Malawi is one of the world’s poorest countries and only 40% of children complete primary school (6-13 years old) and a quarter of a million children haven’t even been enrolled in school.

The 90kg rice challenge was inspired by the fact that if a farmer can sell just 90kg of Kilombero rice at a fair price, they will be able to send a child to secondary school for a year.

Theo explained: “It’s Fairtrade Fortnight at KGS and as part of this we are taking on the 90kg rice challenge. JTS is a fairtrade organisation set up to facilitate the import and distribution of fairly traded products to the UK. JTS is supporting the farmers of Northern Malawi by providing a fair and sustainable market for their Kilombero rice.

“JTS have challenged schools, such as KGS (as well as churches and other organisations) to sell 90kg of rice – this is the amount of rice sold that would enable a Malawian farmer to pay for a year’s basic secondary education for one child.

“Education is one of the most effective ways to escape poverty and by helping us complete the 90kg rice challenge your contribution can make all the difference. All we need is 90 people to buy 1kg of rice each at a cost of £3.20 per kg bag.

“The Fairtrade Steering Group at KGS have a number of other events planned over the course of the fortnight from 28 February-12 March, such as Fairtrade short film screenings and lessons.”

If you are interested in purchasing a bag of rice please contact the Fairtrade Steering Group through Theo at the school – (01856) 872102 ext 1040 or by email.

If your school would like to take part or for full details of the 90kg Rice challenge – see JTS website.