for grades 3–6

This book belongs to:

1
 De ar Fri en d,

We hope you will enjoy this book. We wrote it so that you

could learn all about chocolate, the problems that face
cocoa farmers, and how we can all help. Please feel free
to copy this book for your friends and family!

to
We hope that you will write to chocolate companies
tell them what you have learned from this book, and
the
ask them to sell Fair Trade. There are materials at
back of the book to help you do this!

If you want to learn more, please see the resources

section at the end of the book. Your teacher and
parents can help you find the other resources and look
on the internet sites that are listed.

The Fai r Tra de tea m at. ..

2 3
 Do YOU like chocolate? What’s
your favorite kind?
Do you know what chocolate is made
of? Make your best guess!

Write its name or draw it here.

week 1 Let’s find out!

4 5
Chocolate always has cocoa and cocoa butter. It
usually has sugar and sometimes milk, too.
Cocoa beans grow on trees, inside pods
that are as big as footballs!
Cocoa and cocoa butter come from
cocoa beans. This drawing shows
how much of these are in
a chocolate bar.
It is too cold to grow cocoa in the United
States. Cocoa pods might want a scarf
to stay warm here!

45% 25 % 2 5
MILK
cocoa &
%
5%

Sugar
O IL
utter
cocoa b

Can you name some places

where cocoa might grow?
Cocoa grows in rainforests that are Let’s find out!
warm and wet.

6 7
 It grows in countries in Africa Cocoa also grows in countries in Latin America
BELIZE

NICARAGUA

ECUADOR

Indonesia

Ghana

IVORY Coast

Cameroon

8 9
Do you know where these countries are?

Do you think you could walk to them?

Let’s find them on a map!
You could walk to Latin America but it
would take a really really long time! You
would probably want to take a boat, a
car, or a plane. Find Nicaragua, Belize and Ecuador
on the map of Latin America.

When you find each of these

places, write their names on
the map or color each one
a different color so you will
remember where they are.
10 11
 Every time you eat chocolate, you are sharing a
Cocoa from Africa and Southeast Asia comes to yummy gift from hard working cocoa farmers that live
the United States on big boats. in these faraway places.
Chocolate brings the world together!

Africa and Southeast Asia are all the

way across the ocean. You would have to
take a long ride on a plane or boat to get
there.

Find Ghana and Draw a picture of yourself sharing some chocolate

Cameroon and the with a cocoa farmer.
Ivory Coast on the
map of Africa. Find
Indonesia on the
map of Southeast
Asia.

12 13
 Most cocoa farmers have never even eaten chocolate! They
are too poor to buy or make chocolate bars. They cannot
even pay for things they need, like food and clothes and What could you buy with 25¢? Could you buy lunch?
trips to the doctor. Could you go to the doctor? Could you even buy a
chocolate bar?
Cocoa farmers are poor because they do not get paid
very much for their cocoa.

This is not even enough to pay for the cost of growing cocoa.
Cocoa farmers get 25¢ to 50¢ for each Farmers do not get paid much for their cocoa beans because they do not have any
pound of cocoa beans they sell. say in what the price should be. They just get what companies want to pay them.
This is why farmers stay poor.

Circle some coins

to make 25¢.

week 2 How do you feel about that? Do you think that is right?

14 15
On some farms, these workers are children, just like you. They do not get to go to
school, or play. They have to work very hard on cocoa farms all day because their Some farmers have also cut down the rainforest to
parents are too poor to afford to send their children to school and hire people to grow more cocoa to sell. This has taken homes from
work on the farm. birds and other animals that need the rainforest.
Some farmers are so poor they do not even have the money
to pay their workers. These workers are slaves. They are often
children, brought from other countries to work far away from
their homes and families. They do very dangerous work. They
get yelled at and are treated badly.

Here is a picture of some children who were made to Some of these farmers also use
work as slaves on cocoa farms. chemicals to keep away bugs and
diseases. These chemicals make the
water and air dirty.
How do you think they feel? How
would you feel if you were them?
These boys were Many of the people and animals who breathe the dirty
rescued but others air and drink the dirty water get very sick.
are still working as
slaves on cocoa
farms.

16 17
Fortunately, people are trying to fix these problems. But, these companies still have not agreed to pay
farmers enough for their cocoa.

Some chocolate companies in the United States are trying to end child slavery on This means that many children will still have to work hard so their families
cocoa farms. They are also helping farmers grow cocoa in ways that are good will have enough money to buy food and clothes and go to the doctor.
for the earth.

These are very good things for How does this make you feel? Do you think farmers
companies to do! should get more money for their cocoa?

18 19
 If older kids want to help out on the farm when they come
A lot of people think so. People like this set up home from school, that is ok. But, they cannot be made to work
something called the “Fair Trade” system. all day instead of going to school.
Fair Trade farmers work together and help each other.

The Fair Trade system gives farmers at least 80¢ for each pound
of their cocoa. This gives farmers enough to buy food and
clothes, go to the doctor, and send their children to school.
The Fair Trade system also makes sure that farmers do not use The farmers use some of their money to go to school to learn
slaves or mistreat their workers. This means that cocoa farmers how to grow cocoa in a way that is good for the earth and
are always safe and sound. make their cocoa taste the best it can be. Fair Trade farmers
also share their money with their communities to build things
like schools and doctor’s offices.
Hooray!
Children do not have to work on Fair Trade farms. They Draw something that farmers might do with their Fair Trade money.
can go to school and play like you.

Circle some coins

to make 80¢. Hooray!

20 21
 Find these places on the maps of Latin
Fair Trade cocoa comes from 9 countries: America and Africa.

BELIZE Cameroon When you find each of these places,

write their names on the map or
color each one a different color so
you will remember where they are.
DOMINICAN COSTA RICA
REPUBLIC

BOLIVIA Ghana

ECUADOR PERU

NICARAGUA

You can read stories about some of these farmer

groups on the Inter net. See the back of the book
22 for a list of good web sites. 23
 Fair Trade chocolate has special labels that tell you
There are a lot of farmers in the Fair Trade system - over 50,000! that the farmers were paid a fair price.

Draw some farmers here.

Have you ever eaten Fair Trade

chocolate? What did it taste like?
How many did you draw?

Do you think Fair Trade is a good

week 4 idea? Why?

24 25
Fair Trade chocolate is sold by only a few small You can write to your favorite
companies in the United States. chocolate company!
Big companies do not sell Fair Trade chocolate. Cocoa farmers Tell them that you are sad that cocoa farmers do not get paid enough and that some
do not get a fair price for most of the chocolate we eat. even use child slaves. Tell them you are sad that many children work on cocoa farms
instead of going to school. Ask them to start selling Fair Trade so that these problems
will not happen anymore!
Cocoa farmers get only 1 penny for every chocolate
bar that is not Fair Trade!
Tell your friends and family to write letters, too! If we all ask
companies to sell Fair Trade, they will know how important it is
and they will do it!

What do you think you can do to get big companies to Do you know where to send your letter?
sell Fair Trade chocolate?

Look at the back

of a chocolate
bar!

26 27
 an and CEO
Edmond Opler, Chairm
e Here’s a sample Here is how
World’s Finest Chocolat
icago, IL letter. you can
4801 S. Lawndale; Ch
contact Global
60632-3062 You can practice Exchange:
writing your
Dear Mr. Opler, letter right here! email: fairtrade@
globalexchange.org
at co co a fa rm er s do not get paid enough to web: www.global
I am sad th
many
fo od or go to th e do ctor. I am also sad that exchange.org/cocoa
buy hool
w or k on co co a fa rm s instead of going to sc
children They have a Fair Trade
t sad that
be in g ab le to pl ay like me. I am the mos chocolate campaign
or
ev en us e ch ild sla ve s. Please sell Fair Trade and they can help
some
ppen you out! They would
e problems will not ha
chocolate so that thes also love to hear
w rit e ba ck to le t m e know when you will about your letter to the
anymore! Please
Chocolate. Thank you! chocolate company!
start to sell Fair Trade
You also can find a list
Your friend, of other helpful groups
and web sites in the
back of this book.

28 29
After you write to the chocolate company, you
can do more things to help cocoa farmers:
1.Share this book with friends 4.Learn more about Fair Trade farmers and the
& family. Ask them to buy Fair Trade places they live. See our web site for farmer stories at http://
chocolate & cocoa all the time. Ask www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/ fairtrade/cocoa/
them to write to chocolate companies, cocoacooperatives.html. Also check out the resources in the
too! back of this book to get started.

2.If your school or club sells chocolate for 5.Support other Fair Trade!
a fundraiser, ask the chocolate • Look for Fair Trade bananas and fruits! If your parents like
company to sell Fair Trade. coffee and tea, they can get Fair Trade in the store! See
If the chocolate company won’t sell Global Exchange’s web site for company and store listings.
Fair Trade, get your school or club to
switch to a company that does. Global • You can find fairly traded clothing, hand-crafts, musical
Exchange has a packet to help you at instruments, and other cool things from Fair Trade Stores
www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/
fairtrade/cocoa/FTFundraisingGuide.pdf.

3.Ask your local stores to sell

Fair Trade chocolate & cocoa. You can Fair Trade Federation
get a list of companies from Global www.fairtradefederation.org
Exchange. Global Exchange Fair Trade Stores

week 5
www.fairtradefederation.org

30 31
Thanks for helping bring Fair Trade to
more farmers like us and our families!

Mariano, Nicaragua Ovida, Dominican Republic Asamoah & Lydia, Ghana Manuel, Dominican Republic

32 33
resources
Groups that Oxfam America
26 West Street
Equal Exchange
251 Revere Street
Coop America
1612 K St., #600
Groups promoting Organic Consumers
Association
promote Fair Trade Boston, MA 02111 Canton, MA 02021 Washington, DC 20006 earth-friendly 6771 South Silver Hill Drive
617-482-1211 781-830-0303 202-872-5343 Finland, MN 55603
in the United States email@oxfamamerica.org info@equalexchange.com info@coopamerica.org farming 218.226.4164
www.oxfamamerica.org www.equalexchange.com www.coopamerica.org www.organicconsumers.org

Global Exchange FAIR TRADE FEDERATION

2017 Mission St., #303 1612 K St., #600
San Francisco, CA 94110 Washington, DC 20006
415-575-5538 202-872-5329 Resources for Histor y & Manufacturing of cocoa and chocolate
fairtrade@globalexchange.org ftf@fairtradefederation.org
www.globalexchange.org/cocoa www.fairtradefederation.org
parents and
teachers Chicago Field Museum
of Natural History
TransFair USA FAIR TRADE RESOURCE
1611 Telegraph Ave NETWORK Chocolate Exhibit
Oakland, CA 94612 PO Box 33772 Museum chocolate online exhibit
510-663-5260 Washington, DC 20033 www.fieldmuseum.org/chocolate
info@transfairusa.org 202-302-0976
www.transfairusa.org info@fairtraderesource.org Exploratorium
www.fairtraderesource.org Chocolate Exhibit
Children’s museum online
exhibit on chocolate
Groups that are Save the Children
Canada
Free the Slaves
1012 14th St., NW Ste. 600
www.exploratorium.edu/
chocolate/
working to end 4141 Yonge Street, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20005
Toronto, Ontario M2P 2A8 202.638-1865
child labor 416.221.5501 or info@freetheslaves.net International
1.800.668.5036 www.freetheslaves.net Cocoa Organization
sccan@savethechildren.ca Questions and answers about all
aspects of cocoa and chocolate
International Labor
Child Labor Coalition www.icco.org
Rights Fund
1701 K St. NW, Ste. 120 2001 S Street, NW Ste. 420
Washington, DC 20006 Jubilee Chocolates
Washington, DC 20009
202.835.3323 Lots of fun facts about
202.347.4100
childlabor@nclnet.org chocolate and a special
laborrights@ilrf.org
www.stopchildlabor.org page to post questions you have.
www.laborrights.org
34 www.jubileechocolates.com
35
General Global Exchange Fair Trade Program
Information on all aspects of Fair Trade, including links to lists of
information on other groups and materials in the US and around the world.
www.globalexchange.org, click on “Fair Trade”
Fair Trade
Fair Trade Federation
List of Fair Trade groups and materials in the United States and
This certificate is presented to
around the world. You can fi nd fairly traded clothing, handcrafts,
musical instruments, and other cool things from stores and
companies that are in the Fair Trade Federation!
www.fairtradefederation.com

Oxfam International
Oxfam has educational materials about world trade and Fair Trade for making chocolate sweeter– one bite at a time!
that you can download for free and order from their web sites.
www.oxfam.org
www.oxfam.ca

Great job! Cut out your certifiate!

d getting
d the word about Fair Trade an
Thanks for helping sprea
coa. You are
ir Trade chocolate and co
more companies to sell Fa
cocoa
a rea l dif fer en ce in the lives of more than 50,000
making
up!
across the world. Keep it
farmers and their families

Fair Trade Team

The Global Exchange

, #303 tel: 415) 255.7296

2017 Mission Street fax: 415) 255.7498
410
San Francisco, CA 94 g globalexchange.org/coco
a
de@ glo bal exc ha nge .or
fairtra
36 37
 This book may be copied freely for educational purposes.
Please keep this page in the book when you copy it.

This book was written by

Melissa Schweisguth and designed/illustrated by Margo Sivin.

It was produced by

fairtrade@globalexchange.org
www.globalexchange.org/cocoa
2017 Mission St, #303
San Francisco, CA 94110
415) 575.5538

PHOTO & MAP CREDITS

PAGE 8–9: Country Maps: Robinson
Page 32–33: (clockwise from top left): Melissa A
Schweisguth/Global Exchange, Fairtrade Foundation UK,
Chokky Bikkies, Fairtrade Foundation UK

Global Exchange is an international human rights organization dedicated

to promoting environmental, political and social justice. Since our founding
in 1988, we have increased the US public’s global awareness while building
partnerships among peoples around the world.

38 39
 This book is designed for grades 3-6.
A version for grades K-2 is also available.

2017 Mission St, #303 tel: 415) 255.7296

San Francisco, CA 94110 fax: 415) 255.7498
fairtra de@gl obalex change .org www.g lobalex change .org

40