|PIC1|With Fairtrade Fortnight fast approaching (25 February - 9 March), Tearfund volunteers are encouraging their local communities to switch to fairtrade products, fresh from a visit to Tearcraft producers in India.

Earlier this month, development agency Tearfund gave volunteers selling their fairly traded Tearcraft products the chance to see fairtrade in action, by meeting the very people who have created the products.

The 16-person team travelled throughout India seeing the products they sell in the UK being made.

Jan Wildy, from Glasgow, has been selling Tearcraft products for more than two years and raised over £1,000 from sales.

"Fairtrade works because it makes a difference to people's lives, giving them back their self esteem and the chance to build lives free from abject poverty," said Jan.

"Buying fairly traded products means we not only get the benefit of excellent quality goods, but the satisfaction of knowing that we are making a difference."

Sylvia Saunders, from Loughborough said, "We have so much in the West and buying fairtrade products is a way of supporting those who have so little and giving them dignity. It is something we can all do. It isn't difficult for us but makes such a difference to so many communities."

Over 400 fairly traded products from Bangladesh, India, Thailand, South Africa, Nepal, Peru and Mexico, make up the Tearcraft's collection, including homeware, jewellery and toys.

During Fairtrade Fortnight, Tearfund is encouraging people to get cooking in a 'Fairtrade Bakeathon'. With more than 3,000 fairtrade products available in the UK - from chocolate and coffee to rice and sugar - there has never been a better time to experiment in the kitchen.

Simon Mitchell, from Portsmouth said, "Tearcraft goods make practical household purchases all year round. Encourage your friends, colleagues and clubs to become fairtrade organisations and buy fairtrade yourself."

Meanwhile, Tearfund's young supporters are lobbying high street confectioners to stock fairtrade Easter eggs via Tearfund's new Facebook application, Superbadger.

Tim Hogg, 16, a member of St Saviours Church, Guildford, who is lobbying his local Thorntons to stock fairtrade eggs, says, "It's not right that unfair trade keeps people in poverty. Fairtrade gives farmers and their families the chance to build a better future - and it tastes great too."