Where does chocolate come from? What is the difference between cacao and cocoa? Where are cacao beans grown? How are they harvested and turned into chocolate? Is it ethical to use child labour in cacao plantations? What does Fairtrade mean?
These are some of the questions put to visitors viewing the Geography Week display in the Resources Centre in November. The focus on chocolate corresponded with the Year 9 Geography investigation into rainforest biomes, and specifically cocoa production and ethical farming practices. The interactive display invited students to “follow the chocolate trail” and make discoveries along the way:
- see real cacao trees from tropical north Queensland
- feel the texture and weight of cacao pods
- carry a 15kg sack to experience the weight carried each day by many children sold into slavery to harvest cacao beans
- taste cacao beans, both raw and roasted
- observe the great variety and form of chocolate products
- view infographics about cocoa and chocolate production
- read about the importance of choosing fair trade products
The Resources Centre in collaboration with the geography department conducted lessons for the Year 9 Geography students to gain in-depth knowledge of cocoa production, child exploitation in the chocolate industry and the ongoing efforts of fair trade organisations to improve farming and labour practices.
To coincide with the chocolate theme, the library has launched the Summer Chocolate Reading Challenge. All students and staff are challenged to commit to reading three, six or nine novels over the summer holidays. Readers are asked to post a book review per challenge level to earn a Fairtrade chocolate on their return to the College in 2018. For more details, click here.
