On May 18th 2014, we launched our Fair Trade Community with tea, coffee and hot chocolate taste testing, a fair trade handicrafts stall and a fair trade themed kids activity.
- We received our certificate of recognition from the Fair Trade Association and display this is a prominent place for all our visitors to see
- A certified Fairtrade soccer ball was used in our church soccer match in 2015
- Fairtrade products were used at our Cherish Afternoon Tea
- Kids Connect ran a Fairtrade Easter Egg Hunt and our children’s ministries used Fairtrade eggs for their Easter festivities in 2016
- CUC Youth has used Fairtrade chocolates to fundraise for a justice initiative
- One couple have even started an online store that sells Fairtrade products as a direct result of hearing about fair trade at church
- At our Town Farm Carols in 2015, $722.93 was raised through the Give Hope campaign for practical gift vouchers for families seeking asylum.
- Clothes Swap for Fashion Revolution (April 24th ): we asked clothing companies ‘Who made our clothes?’ and raised money to support a Community Liaison Officer working against human trafficking
- On Freedom Sunday October 16th 2016, we gathered together, at the same time as many other churches in Australia, to pray against human trafficking and raise awareness within our services.
- We were honoured to be a screening partner for ‘Girl Rising’ on Freedom Friday October 28th, featuring stories of freedom through the power of education in the developing world. 64 people attended and we raised $750.51 towards TEAR Australia’s Primary Education Program, Pakistan. Thank you to all who came along and took a stand for girls education!
- At the culmination of our freedom series, each of our services had special guests for a panel on how we as individuals can get involved in seeking freedom for others. Guest speakers included Libby Sorrell from Stop The Traffik, Benn Banasik from Micah Challenge and Steve Barnett from TEAR Australia
- The Justice Project Macarthur ran TEAR’s slum simulation called ‘Basti Life’ where 25 participants experienced a glimpse of what life is like in an urban slum. Families had to make paper bags for a living and have to contend with unfair shopkeepers, debt collectors, and other hazards of slum life. We also explored the possibilities of positive social change through community development work.