LEARNING FOR SUSTAINABILITY - AN ACTIVITY TO ENGAGE LEARNERS

Nicola Taylor • September 3, 2019

The 90kg Rice Challenge

The 90kg Rice Challenge is a perfect activity for your school for several reasons:

Planned lessons in line with the Curriculum for Excellence

Teaching Resources provided

Quick and easy to take part

Can you take on the 90kg Rice Challenge?

The 90kg Rice Challenge is in its 10th year now and is becoming more and more popular due to its ease to take part in, its clear message, and its worthwhile outcome. The simple concept is that a rice farmer in Malawi has to sell 90kg of rice to give him enough of a sustainable income to run his farm, feed and clothe his family and enable him to provide education for his children.

The 90kg Rice Challenge is a teaching tool to demonstrate:

the benefits of buying fair trade products here and how it positively impacts the lives of the producers in the developing world,
how pupils can be global citizens by helping those in some of the poorest communities in the world gain an education and therefore provide a brighter future for their peers in Malawi,
sustainability by providing a consistent market in the UK and thereby helping the rice farmers to work their way out of poverty with dignity and creating food security,
social enterprise by allowing the pupils to run a business and come up with innovative and creative ways to sell the 90 x 1kg bags of Kilombero rice from Malawi

The Challenge costs £288 (£3.20 per 1kg bag of rice) and the idea is that having completed the lessons, the pupils will sell the rice on to family members or in the community in order to cover the costs, but some schools prefer to cook with it, host curry nights, bake offs, or do a Dragon’s Den scenario etc.

Help provide a brighter future for children in Malawi by taking on the 90kg Rice Challenge

To take part in the Challenge:

· call us on 0141 255 0901

· email nicola@jts.co.uk

· order online at shop.jts.co.uk (upfront payment required for online orders)

· visit us at the Scottish Learning Festival on Stand H37

The 90kg Rice Challenge comes with all teaching materials

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A woman standing at church fair trade stall with lots of delicious fair trade products available

How to Run a True Origin Fair Trade Stall at Your Church

By Nicola Taylor • July 3, 2026

A Fair Trade stall is about so much more than selling tea, coffee and chocolate. Every purchase supports smallholder farmers and producers who are working incredibly hard to build sustainable livelihoods in the face of climate change, rising fuel costs and an unpredictable global market. For many of the communities we work with, having reliable customers is essential. By running a True Origin stall at your church, you become part of that support network, helping to create regular demand for products that often aren't available in supermarkets or high street shops. Whether your church is passionate about global justice, caring for creation or simply making a practical difference, a Fair Trade stall is a simple but powerful way to turn those values into action. Start Small You don't need a huge team or a large budget to get started. Begin by talking with your church leaders about the idea. Many churches are happy to provide a small loan or donation to purchase initial stock, particularly if it can be repaid gradually as sales grow. Remember that most of the income from a stall is best reinvested into buying more stock rather than raising money for church funds. This helps keep the stall sustainable and ensures producers continue to receive orders. If you're new to running a stall, don't worry, you won't be on your own. The True Origin team and experienced Fair Traders are always happy to share advice and practical tips.