The Co-operative Raises a Glass to Argentina’s First Fair-Trade Funded School

Well known for their dedication to ethical causes and the increase of Fair Trade awareness, The Co-operative has recently celebrated the first Fair trade funded secondary school in Argentina.

The School in the remote region of La Rioja had previously only been able to provide education up to the age of 14 but with the opening of this secondary school, children in the village of Tilimuqui can now receive further education providing great prospects for the future.

The Co-operative has worked closely with La Riojana – a local fair trade certified winery – since 2006 and sells five of the vineyard’s wines in its stores here in the UK. The winery benefits from not only the Fair Trade accreditations but the Co-operative have matched these totals themselves as well.

This money has been key in the successful completion of the Secondary School that specialises in Agricultural studies. This project isn’t the first that has benefitted the village of Tilimuqui as the Co-operative has worked with La Riojana previously on the Tilimuqui water project which brought safe and clean water supplies to the village.

Vicky Wood, Category Marketing Manager for Wine at The Co-operative, commented: “We are extremely proud to be involved in this life-changing project which is offering opportunities to the children of Tilimuqui through the new school, and our initial water project.

“Our customers have always been strong supporters of Fairtrade and we are so delighted to be able to communicate to them the significant changes they have made in developing countries by purchasing Fairtrade wine from The Co-operative.”

The school opened in March 2010 with 33 pupils but with the second stage of the school’s construction still underway it is estimated that once completed the school will be able to hold 300 pupils.

The importance of Fairtrade produce is a key issue to the Co-operative and their values, other issues the Co-operative are keen to bring attention to is the Causes of Climate Change and Global Warming Facts to help raise awareness of the damage being done and how we can all help to reduce our effect on our environment.

Contact Information

Dave Smith

PR Manager

The Co-operative Group

Contact via E-mail