Mistoqsijiet Ewlenin dwar il-Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust

Basic information about Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust

What is a Cooperative - Cooperatives in Malta - Links (Scoops)

Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust is a Maltese-registered Fair Trade Cooperative, set up in 1996. Since then it has been constantly active in the promotion of ‘fair’ values in trade through regular outreach programs in the form of formal, non formal and informal learning processes. This works aims and achieves the empowerment of the Cooperative’s members, its associates and partners, members of the civil society and the general public, who are educated in becoming more active, socially responsible and critical citizens and consumers.

KKĠ runs its educational process in a flexible and easily-adaptable way that meets the needs of particular communities within society, and different niches within the market (the latter group is further addressed through transparent and socially-oriented means of marketing). The Maltese population is small and technological changes have a rapid and wide-spread effect. KKĠ is very conscious of this and plans ahead in order to convey the message creatively and in a relevant way.

Reaching these aims has always depended on the on-going educational process the members of KKĠ and its associates undergo, which creates a shared pool of resources and developmental tools that are constantly improved and updated.

The Educational Process

KKĠ is interested in joining the other partners in the FAIR project within the Leonardo da Vinci II programme framework because this will allow it to develop its present skills and improve the educational structure and tools it uses. In brief, KKĠ runs its constant learning structure and addresses the educational needs it faces in the following ways:

ü      Encourages the empowerment of its members

ü      Promotes collaboration on projects inside the Cooperative

ü      Promotes understanding and collaboration with other voluntary and socially-committed organisations

ü      Also runs formal education programs

The Process in Practice

KKĠ achieves the above by using various media within formal, informal and non formal learning processes. Chiefly, it:

ü      Transmits skills (both within and outside the cooperative) related to communication, presentation, education, management, accountancy, promotion, organisation and capacity-building through the setting up of seminars, meetings and the dissemination of printed material

ü      Actively assists its members in attending seminars and meetings (of a similar nature to the ones described above) and organised by other local or foreign bodies such as CTM-Altromercato, the Italian fair trade consortium and NEWS, the international network of World Shops

ü      Is actively involved in the Maltese Social Economy. KKĠ pioneered research in identifying and empowering a number of local NGOs that contribute to making the economy more sensitive to the social dimension. KKĠ originated and helped found together with four other foundations/cooperatives that work in the fields of disability, organic farming and social inclusiveness. The Social Economy forged stronger links between its representatives and created a ripple-effect that is currently leading to further collaboration

ü      Is actively involved in the Malta Forum for Social Justice and Development, and the NGDO Platform (Malta)

ü      Regularly sets up events that generate interest on a national level and are attended by members of the civil society, political representatives, religious representatives, the media and the general public. Chiefly, these are ‘Worldfest’, the celebration of World Fair Trade Day in May, and ‘Taste the World’, an open festival which achieves a healthy balance between non formal education and entertainment

ü      Runs formal education programs regarding fair trade and sustainable development in primary and secondary schools and higher education institutes

ü      Combines formal with non formal learning by collaborating with a local cooperative (Outlook Coop) in getting students involved in fair trade education and marketing both within the school structure and outside (thanks to extracurricular sessions and hands-on projects)

ü      Uses its website (http://www.oocities.org/kkgmalta/) regularly and extensively in encouraging informal learning

ü      Disseminates a quarterly newsletter to all its members (via email and post)

ü      Regularly publishes articles about fair trade, fighting poverty and ethical consumerism in the Business Supplement of Malta’s leading daily, The Times (www.timesofmalta.com)

European Involvement

KKĠ collaborated with the Third World Group (a socially-committed NGO), which is the local action group for the MED2000 programme framework, on the research involved in the identification and selection of the partners in the Social Economy.

Ludek Sterba, a volunteer from the Czech Republic, has just completed a 7-month work placement with KKĠ (receiving, and also giving, training in fair trade, advocacy, shop management and networking) under the project entitled ‘IN-CO Czech 2002-4’ within the Leondardo da Vinci framework and coordinated by the University of West Bohemia, Czech Republic.

Contact Details

Nathalie Grima, President: kkg@maltaforum.org, +356 2137 6941

Vince Caruana, Education Officer: shanti@global.net.mt +356 2149 1373

Karsten Xuereb, Projects Coordinator: progetti@maltaforum.org, +356 7946 7952

Office: Room 82, National Swimming Pool Complex, MM Spinelli Street, Gżira GŻR 02, Malta. Tel +356 2131 5562

Karsten Xuereb

23 January 2004

Mistoqsijiet Ewlenin dwar il-Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust

Għaliex koperattiva u mhux kumpanija?

L-istruttura ta’ koperattiva tgħin lill-membri tal-KKĠ jkollhom kontroll sħiħ tal-koperattiva, b’mod demokratiku u trasparenti. Kull membru għandu sehem wieħed, bħal ħaddieħor, u l-ammont ta’ flus li tpoġġew fil-koperattiva ma jeffettwax dan. Kull membru għandu d-dritt ukoll jkun infurmat mill-attivitajiet u t-tmexxija tal-KKĠ mill-membri li qegħdin fil-Kumitat, fost l-oħrajn permezz ta’ newsletter li toħroġ kull tliet xhur.

X’se nieħu bħala membru?

Is-sodisfazzjon li tinvesti u tipparteċipa fl-iżvilupp soċjali li jiġi mill-proġetti tal-KKĠ. Bħala membru tkun qed tirbaħ l-entużjażmu li ssib fi ħdan il-koperattiva. Bħala apprezzament ta’ l-investiment li tagħmel fil-KKĠ, int tieħu skont ta’ 5% fuq il-prodotti kollha tal-ħanut L-Arka, u tirċievi newsletter li toħroġ kull tliet xhur.

X’inhuma r-riskji?

F’dawn l-aħħar seba’ snin kiber in-numru ta’ membri tal-KKĠ u ta’ xerrejja mill-ħanut L-Arka, li dis-sena għalaq ħames snin. Bħalissa il-KKĠ qed topera b’telf, li mhux ġej minħabba nuqqa ta’ bejgħ, imma minħabba fl-investiment li qed jsir biex jikber ix-xogħol tal-koperattiva. Dan jinkludi ż-żieda u t-tibdil regolari fl-istock ta’ prodotti u l-impjegar ta’ żewġ ħaddiema part-time.

Għaliex xi prodotti tal-kummerċ ġust huma ogħla minn prodotti oħra?

Meta tixtri prodott tal-kummerċ ġust tkun qed tagħti sehmek fix-xiri u l-investiment li jsir mill-produttur fil-materja prima u fix-xogħol tal-ħaddiema. Il-prezz jirrefletti wkoll l-istabbilità li sistema ġusta tipprova ssostni bejn il-konsumatur u l-produttur. Dan jinkludi l-possibilità li l-ħaddiema fil-pajjiżi tat-Tielet Dinja jkollhom paga xierqa li tgħinhom jipproġettaw żvilupp fil-ġejjieni tagħhom u ta’ wliedhom. 

“Fair Trade Certification is an alternative approach to the coffee market that puts more of the profit in the hands of coffee farmers. Coffee companies that import and roast Fair Trade coffee guarantee farmers a minimum price of Lm1.19 per kilogramme and Lm1.34 if certified organic.  This can be as much as a three- or even four-fold increase to what some farmers might otherwise receive for their crop.”  Fl-istess artiklu jien zidt dan “Fair Trade Labeling Organization also certify that the profits from the Fair Trade premium price are used in ways that help small-scale coffee farmers increase their incomes while improving the prospects of their communities, through investments in community improvements, such as clean water, medical clinics, and schools.  Thus fair trade offers consumers a way to channel their purchases into socially responsible products that support.”

Fil-każ ta’ xogħol ta’ l-artiġjanat, il-prezz jirrefletti l-uniċità tax-xogħol li jinħadem bl-idejn u l-oriġinalità li jkollha l-biċċa xogħol. Fil-każ ta’ l-ikel, il-prezz li tħallas għal bott ġamm jew għasel jinkludi l-valur għoli tal-prodott, li hu organiku, bla pestiċidi u maħdum b’sostenibbilità sħiħa lejn l-ambjent u lejn min ħadmu.

Għaliex xi prodotti ta’ l-ikel ma jkunux 100% prodotti fi ħdan il-kummerċ ġust?

Ċerti prodotti, numru ta’ bars taċ-ċikkulata, ikunu madwar 68% ċertifikati bħala kummerċ ġust. Dan għaliex it-32% l-ieħor jinkludi l-ipproċessar li jgħaddi minnu l-cocoa f’pajjiżi Ewropej bħall-Isvizzera. Dan il-pass hu meħtieġ biex ċikkulata li tinbiegħ fl-Ewropa jkollha prezz kompetittiv fis-suq. Dan ghaliex ir-regolamenti tal-WTO jghinu lil pajjizzi sinjuri u fil-fatt hemm tariffi gholjin biex jaghmluha fil-fatt impossibli biex il-prodott primarju (ez. Cocoa bean jigi processat fil-pajjiz ta’ l-origini).

Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust

Information for International Volunteers

1. What does this fair trade cooperative do?
2. Where can I find you?
3. Do you accept volunteers as part of the EVS programme?
4. What factors are important for recruiting volunteers?
5. What would the volunteer be required to do?
6. Can you give me some information about the island of Malta?

What does this fair trade cooperative do?

The aims of Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust are:

1. to create awareness of the unfair world trading system and to suggest ways in which we can all promote a change for the better;

2. to campaign for a fairer division of income and labour between North and South and to influence international trade policy in this direction;

3. to cooperate with other Fair Trade organisations and with Third World Organisations who are trying to create a fair chance and a fair share of the earth's resources for people in the South;

4. to create new partnerships with small scale producers and socially excluded individuals and strengthen the partners’ position;

5. to import, sell and distribute fair traded products;

6. to import, sell and distribute products of a high ethical standard which complement the fair trade range and help raise funds.

Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust is a non-governmental national organisation. Koperattiva Kummer Gust has been a member of IFAT (International Federation for Alternative Trade) - which is a global network of 154 Fair Trade organisations in 49 countries -  since 1999. In 2001 it became the first non-Italian partner of CTM – Altromercato, a leading Italian Alternative Trading Organisation.

Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust is not driven by the logic of return on capital but seeks to reflect the genuine needs and responsibilities of the people it serves.  Thus, all members waive any right to any part of the profits which are re-invested in the Co-operative Society or may be used to relieve poverty and despair, to improve social and environmental conditions or to educate and inform.

The poster (above right) shows one of the activities in which KKĠ regularly takes part. The Reclaim the World event was organized by Moviment Graffitti was held in October 2003. Congo Bon Chic also took part in this event.

The Society has two part-timers. Most of the work is done by volunteers.  The Co-operative Society welcomes and encourages the service of volunteers who want to participate in the promotion of fair trade.

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Where can I find you?

Our contact details are as follows: 

Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust

306, “L-Arka”, St Paul’s Street, Valletta, Malta.

Tel: (+356) 2124 4865 - Fax: (+356) 2131 5562

Email: kkg@maltaforum.org

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Do you recruit volunteers as part of the EVS programme?

The EVS Project aims to reflect the aims of the Fair Trade Co-operative (Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust), namely to directly and indirectly create awareness of the unfair world trading system between North and South and to suggest ways in which we can all promote a change for the better.  All volunteer actions would reflect the general objectives of the Fair Trade Society (both directly and indirectly). 

Fair trade partners like Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust recognise that trade can be a powerful tool in overcoming poverty, combating environmental destruction and achieving sustainable development.  Since the Fair Trade Co-operative aims to educate the general Maltese public about fair trade and ethical issues, this initiative supports some of the main thrusts of the EVS, namely providing an informal intercultural learning experience for the volunteer, whilst encouraging social integration and active participation of the volunteer and providing definite opportunities to show solidarity with other people (locally and globally).

Training and personal support will be organised by the members of the Fair Trade Co-operative who are committed to forward the aims of the EVS project.  Malta offers abundant opportunities for language training, being an international centre for English language teaching/learning, besides having a rich diversity of opportunities for further linguistic training in other languages .

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What factors are important for recruiting volunteers?

Given the nature of the EVS project and the general aims and objectives of the Fair Trade Co-operative, relevant factors to be taken into account for recruiting the volunteer are:

-         a sound background in economics especially international economics and the fair trade initiative;

-         good communication qualities with all ages, including young people and children;

-         preferably has training and studies in Psychology, Education and Communication;

-         fluent in spoken and written English;

-         shows evidence of initiative, adaptability and responsibility;

-         displays general leadership qualities;

-         displays experience in office work and in working with others;

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What would the volunteer be required to do?

The volunteer’s tasks as part of the EVS project would involve (amongst others):

-    general work connected with office and fair trade shop;

-    unpacking and packing of crafts for fair trade shop and 'mobile' shop;

-    pricing of goods for shop;

-    making orders of goods for fair trade shop;

-    salesperson or assistant salesperson in fair trade shop;

-    accounts work;

-    sales promotion;

-    conducting marketing research and other research for the fair trade shop;

-    education for schoolchildren and young people about fair trade initiative;

-    other practical work.

A typical weekday would involve the following:

am:  either general work involving office and/or fair trade shop

or  education about fair trade and ethical issues in schools with children and young people

early afternoon lunch and break

pm:  alternating with work involving shop and office (market research/accounts/ordering of goods/pricing, etc.)

  and language training  and socialisation/Maltese culture and opportunities to socialise

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Can you give me some information about the island of Malta?

Location and Size

Malta is an independent country located in the centre of the western Mediterranean, halfway between Sicily and Tunisia.  Set in the clear blue Mediterranean Sea, the Maltese islands are the most southerly European country. The archipelago consists of the islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino, together with two other uninhabited islands.

The total area is 316 sq kms (Malta 246 sq kms, Gozo 67 sq kms, Comino 2.7 sq kms). The longest distance in Malta from North West to South East is about 27 kms, with 14.5 kms width in an E/W direction.

Malta has neither mountains nor rivers and the islands are characterised by a series of low hills with terraced fields. The shoreline, which is 137 kms long, has many bays and harbours, with a good selection of small sandy beaches and rocky coves.

Population: 380,000

Capital: Valletta

Main Harbour: Grand Harbour

Airport: Malta International Airport - Gudja (6 km from Valletta)

History of Malta

Because of their strategic position, Malta and Gozo have been inhabited for the past 7,000 years. The two larger islands have a long and varied prehistoric period: Neolithic, Copper   and Bronze age civilisations lasted more than 4,000 years;  one can still admire vestiges of those remote times in form of impressive stone temples, a unique hypogeum and remains of skilful handicrafts.

In 1964, Malta attained its Independence from Britain, and ten years later, in 1974, it was declared a Republic within the British Commonwealth.

Until the 1960s, the Maltese economy depended mostly on the British services and the Naval Dockyard. After independence, industry and tourism advanced at a fast pace, and at present Malta and Gozo have established a good industrial base and flourishing tourist enterprises.

The people speak their own tongue - Maltese, a language of Semitic origin. Through the ages, many foreign words, particularly Italian, became part of the language, and Maltese is the only Semitic language written in Latin characters.

English is one of two official languages and is widely spoken in Malta and Gozo. The official religion is that of the Roman Catholic Church, and the majority are regular church-goers. There are no other denominations of substantial size among the Maltese, but churches of other denominations are also to be found, for religious needs.

Throughout the centuries, Malta's strategic position in the Mediterranean has attracted the attention of the major powers of the day, all of whom exerted a strong cultural influence on the islands and their inhabitants. Malta has had to survive under various successive rulers - from the Phoenicians and Romans to the Arabs, French and British. Long before them, lost in the mists of time, others had established an advanced civilisation as can be witnessed by the magnificent megalithic temples which predate both Stonehenge and the Pyramids. It is thought that people from various parts of the Mediterranean gathered together to celebrate religious acts of worship in these temples.

Perhaps the most glorious pages in Malta's history were written during the times of the Knights of St. John (1530 - 1798), during which they improved trade and commerce with the islands, built new hospitals and, most important, erected new strong fortifications. Malta's turbulent history has therefore placed its hallmark on the character of the Maltese in an extremely useful way for the implementation of conferences: flexibility, efficiency, and hospitality towards foreign cultures.

Few territories can boast such a rich history. The Maltese Islands offer a wide range of fascinating archaeological and architectural monuments, including beautiful churches, massive bastions, intriguing museums and prehistoric remains.

Gozo, the island of the nymph Calypso, is smaller than its sister island Malta and has a character quite distinct from it. Flat topped hills characterise the landscape, whilst the coast has rugged cliffs, penetrated by steep valleys and beautiful bays.  Gozo is more rustic with tranquil surroundings. It offers a number of converted traditional farmhouses, ideal for small top management meetings.

Climate

The Maltese Islands enjoy a healthy climate, with mild winters and a hot summer season. Cold winds, snow, frost and fog are unknown. Rain falls between September and April. It seldom rains after April, and nearly never in summertime.

The climate is warm and healthy. There are no biting winds, fog, snow or frost.  Rain falls for only very short periods averaging about 578 mm (20 inches) in a whole year. The temperature averages 14.1 C in winter (November - April) and 32 C in summer (May - October). The sun shines for an average 6.46 hours each day in winter and 10.11 hours in summer. The hottest period is from mid-July to mid-September. The island is seldom too hot even in the height of summer as hot summer days and nights are regularly tempered by cool breezes from the sea.

The Maltese Population

The Maltese welcome the company of foreigners and being helpful to them comes naturally. Also, they take great interest in what is happening in the rest of the world, and, with their flair for languages, communication with visitors is easy. They have an admirable sense of humour and like most Mediterranean people, tend to be rather jovial.

Time

Malta is on central European Time (CET), that is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in winter and two hours from the last Sunday in March until the last Sunday in October.

Currency

Malta's currency is decimal. The Lira (Lm) is the unit of currency and is divided into 100 cents; each cent is again divided into 10 mils. There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency visitors may bring into Malta, providing it is declared upon arrival.

Language

Maltese and English are both official languages in Malta. Italian is widely spoken while a good knowledge of French and German is available.

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George Zarb
Copyright © 2001  [Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust]. All rights reserved.
Revised: March 05, 2004

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