The Problem
Only a tiny proportion of the money from worldwide trade reaches poor people in developing countries.
The mother in Arabica is a good example of this. She works from dawn to dusk picking coffee beans - but earns only £1 a day. It isn't enough to feed her family properly, and she cannot afford education or health care for her children.
Some pickers have escaped this poverty trap. They have formed co-operatives and are supplying beans to 'fair trade' companies - like Cafe Direct (European), and Equal Exchange (American). The producers get a better price which means more money for food, schooling, medicine and a brighter future.
How you can help
Spreading the message of the musical, i.e. education, is one way to help. But there are other practical ways too.
When you go shopping, look out for the Fairtrade mark, which guarantees
that the producers get a fair deal.
By purchasing fairly traded coffee, tea or chocolate - available in most supermarkets and in specialist shops - you can help millions of people to have a better life.
