Location: United States
United Students for Fair Trade is a national network of student organizations advocating around Fair Trade products, policies, and principles. They have three main functions. First, to organize—USFT works to consolidate and coordinate the power of the over 100 active student Fair Trade organizations in the U.S. Second, leadership development and capacity building, primarily through intensive international exchanges and skill-building conferences. Last, serving as a resource group for student-based affiliates looking for anything from a phone number to research materials to strategic advice to internship opportunities.
The core objective of USFT is to raise the awareness of and expand the demand for Fair Trade alternatives, both on campuses and in communities. Through this process, they redefine relationships between producer and consumer, and engage in the ongoing struggle to build people’s power in the face of corporate-driven globalization.