Spring is finally in the air, and with it – hope. Hope for new life, for colour to return to what has been a drab and dank landscape, hope for lighter evenings and warmer weather. Every year at this time, I marvel at the miracle of spring and the vast and complex cosmic spreadsheet that must be required to get all the elements right. 

This morning I enjoyed a glorious walk along a regular circuit of mine – river, steps, local Botanic gardens – all in the middle of the city. What a treat. Birds were singing beautifully and with great gusto. Multiple happy dogs abounded in and out of water…mud…grass, greeting each other with delight. Everywhere there are courageous and optimistic new shoots of life poking their heads out of the ground to bring us little a smile. Daffodils, those fabulous bringers of hope are emerging.

And all this hope puts me in mind of how this Lent season we can bring hope in a small way to a specific group of people. How one small choice on our part each day this season can bring ripples of hope to communities of people we are likely never to meet but who depend on our choices. 

I’m talking about Fairtrade.

A wonderful friend, Fairtrade ambassador and all round Fairtrade superstar gave me the idea for this week’s post. As we consider what we can START rather than give up for Lent, starting to buy Fairtrade chocolate rather than the more traditional approach of giving it up seems like a great idea. This makes particular sense just now as it is Fairtrade Fortnight after all. 

This is especially important if we have not made Fairtrade choices before, as if we make this switch during this Lent season and stick to it, there are long term benefits for cocoa farmers. There is loads of wonderful information about this on the Fairtrade Foundation website, which I commend to you. 

Farmers like Rosine Bekoin, a cocoa farmer in the Ivory Coast, who owns and runs her own farm. Since joining a local co-operative and selling her cocoa as Fairtrade, she has received training and support and her production has increased by 50%. What made me cry as I read her story is her hope for the future:

“There’s a song that we sing in the fields that says we are standing up and working for the future of our children. Because it’s they who will come after us… Why can’t a female producer be the President one day? We can do it.” 

Her’s is a great story of courage, hope, teamwork, hard work and empowerment – you can read it here over your Fairtrade coffee and Fairtrade chocolate. 

But this Lent, as you reflect on all that we have in the developed world, why not make this simple daily choice to bring hope to others in the developing world:

Choose Fairtrade Chocolate this Lent.

And as you tuck into your Kit Kat with a warm glow of satisfaction, think of Rosine as you may well be eating some of her cocoa. 

A simple message this week – in our daily choices we have the power to bring hope and new life to others. 

So this week of Lent, choose Fairtrade, and choose life.