Newcastle Emlyn Fairtrade Group is hosting a special guest from Malawi on Saturday March 7, to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight and the difference Fairtrade makes around the world.

Allan Saidi from Kasinthula Cane Growers’ Association (KCG) will meet with the local community at Fair Trade shop Fair and Fabulous, as part of the Fairtrade Foundation's annual producer tour.

As Newcastle Emlyn has recently achieved Fairtrade Town status the community is excited to welcome Mr Saidi to the town, who will help plant a tree to commemorate the town's Fairtrade achievement.

Mr Saidi will start his visit by presenting prizes for the children of Ysgol Penboyr at 11.15am at Fair and Fabulous. The children have competed in a decorate a Fairtrade Bag competition and all the

competitors bags are displayed in the shop. The tree planting will take place in the main street, Sycamore Street, at 11.45am. The tree has been kindly donated by Trefhedyn Garden Centre.

Former sugar cane grower Allan is currently an administrator at KCG, a Fairtrade-certified sugar cane project in an inhospitable region of southern Malawi. One of the world’s poorest countries, Malawi is often affected by long droughts that result in famine and twice-yearly rains that often bring floods, with the most recent one affecting more than a million people.

Fairtrade has made a real difference to the lives of the sugar cane growers, their families and local communities by ensuring a stable income for the growers, as well as Fairtrade Premium of $60 a tonne, which the association has so far invested in improving sugar cane productivity and in healthcare, clean water, electricity and education.

"We are inviting everyone in Newcastle Emlyn to come down to support Allan in the tree planting."

Allan said: "Fairtrade is doing a lot for me. I have built a better house and my child goes to a school constructed with Fairtrade Premium money."

Thousands of events will be held to amplify the campaign in many of Fairtrade’s network of 600 Fairtrade Towns, 1350 Fairtrade Schools and 170 Fairtrade Universities, and ,500 Fairtrade Faith Groups. Activities will include producer events, film screenings, tastings, and a ‘Stock It’ Challenge.

For more information visit fairtrade.org.uk/fortnight or call Fair and Fabulous, 01239 712835.