Photo competition

Fair trade chocolate lover wins chocolate trip 

Oikocredit challenged fair trade consumers around the world to participate in a photo competition entitled "How fair is your world?". Out of some 50 entries, the jury, hosted by Dutch television anchor Mirella van Markus, selected a winner and four runners-up. The winner has won a trip to cocoa confederation Conacado in the Dominican Republic.

View the entries here.

The photo competition, launched in January 2008, was part of Oikocredit's fair trade campaign. The aim of this campaign was to raise awareness about fair trade and the importance of fair financing. Starting as a pioneer in the field of development financing in 1975, Oikocredit is today an important financierof the fair trade sector worldwide, with currently close to € 20 million outstanding in over 45 fair trade organizations. Beside fair trade, Oikocredit finances farmers' cooperatives that play a crucial role in the economic development of rural communities.

The winner of the photo competition, Tim van der Ark from the Netherlands, entered the competition with a picture of himself eating fair trade chocolate sprinkles. The jury selected this picture because of its technical quality and the originality of the picture. Decisive, though, was the way he pictured the joy of eating a quality fair trade product. He commented the picture with the words: "In my eyes it's logical to buy fair trade. Why shouldn't farmers be paid a fair price? We all want to enjoy our lives."

Van der Ark will visit cocoa confederation Conacado in the Dominican Republic and see with his own eyes how fair cocoa is grown. Read more about Conacado in the Dominican Republic.

The other prize winners will all receive a Divine Chocolate gift parcel.

Contact for further information
Ms Karima Wardak 91 40 2332 5678 or e-mail kwardak@oikocredit.org

 

First prize winner
Photographer: Tim van der Ark
Country: Netherlands

 

 

 

  "This is a self-portrait and I can tell you that too many chocolate sprinkles are not good for your stomach. Now I must go and get another packet, which is also beneficial for cocoa farmers.

And what do I think of fair trade; it's just logical isn't it?"

Second prize winner
Photographer: Steffen Risius Country: Germany

 

 

 

 

Fair trade puts its cards on the table!
"How are my clothes produced? Where does the cotton come from? What do the producers receive? These questions were answered for me for the first time through the purchase of a pair of fair trade jeans. I took the enclosed autotimed photos because I was so happy that, following a long search, I had actually managed to acquire a pair of "fair trousers". The manufacturer put its cards on the table and revealed both the origins and circumstances of the produced articles, described in the enclosed brochure. Fairly traded!"

Third prize winner
Photographer:

Klara Jilkova
Country: Czech Republic

 

Ms Klara is on the photograph together with her favourite fair trade chocolate. She works as a volunteer for Excellent Plzen FAIR TRADE.

Fair trade message: "Have insight, change the world with fair trade."

 

Honourable mention
Photographer:

Holger Förster
Country:
Germany

 

 

 

 

"The photo shows Dorothee Albrecht, member of the Preetz World Shop (Weltladen Preetz), before a sparse African landscape (Namibia). Her posture and contents of the basket show her bond with the producers of the goods, which are available in the World Shop. The Preetz World Shop wants to be seen as a specialist fair trade store."

"Rich man and poor man stood there and looked at each other. And the poor man said:  If I were not poor, you would not be rich."  B. Brecht

Photographer:
Katerina Daifotis
Country:
Germany

 

   

"The picture shows Kumiko Miyajima, 29 years old, whom I photographed in Cologne in a World Shop. She comes from Japan and I told her about Oikocredit. Personally, I find the contribution that Oikocredit makes to be marvelous, in view of the global financial crisis and the degree of greed and arrogance. Many people could surely be reached just now, who have lost their money in unreliable and irresponsible banks. I like buying fair trade and organic products and consider Oikocredit to be a very important organization."

 

Oikocredit: Oikocredit: private capital for development

Oikocredit is a co-operative financial institution, which is today recognized as one of the largest private funds for microfinance by CGAP. Oikocredit services over 450 microfinance institutions with €315 million outstanding in the sector. Beyond microfinance, Oikocredit offers loans or investment capital to fair trade organizations, co-operatives and small and medium sized enterprises in developing countries, aimed at development financing. Oikocredit is privately financed; individuals and organizations invest in Oikocredit shares. Direct members of the co-operative are churches, church-affiliated organizations, project members and Oikocredit support associations; individuals invest through support associations.

Oikocredit.org