Scottish Fair Trade Forum Newsletter

The Scottish Fair Trade Forum would like to introduce Alex Duran, the SFTF Fair Trade Fortnight Co-ordinator on a placement in conjuntion with Vodafone sponsership

Hi, my name is Alex Duran and I have just started in my role as Fair Trade Fortnight Co-ordinator.

I was originally born in Venezuela, my father is Venezuelan and my mother is English. I lived there until I was 10. Since 1990 I have been living in the UK spending 10 years in Yorkshire before coming to Edinburgh to study at Queen Margaret University. After finishing I started working in events, namely at the Edinburgh International Festival Centre, The Hub. I have since decided to change my trajectory by starting a new degree course with the Open University in International Studies. With my language skills background and this degree I hope to work in international development, so working with the SFTF is a great opportunity to see how a Scottish charity can have a positive impact on people in the developing world

How did you come to work in the SFTF?

I was lucky enough to catch an article in a newspaper that mentioned a competition being run by Vodafone Foundation called World of Difference (WoD). The prize for winning was a two month paid placement with a charity of my choice. At the time of reading the article I had a matter of four days to contact Betsy Reed, explain about WoD, find a role I would be able to take on and then fill in the application form. Simple, if a little too close for comfort to the deadline time. But there was nothing to worry about as I received confirmation in December that I had won and would be taking up my role with the SFTF in mid January!

Before my first week with the SFTF, I attended an inspiring day in London to meet my fellow competition winners and some of the people at the Vodafone Foundation who made this placement possible. On my return to Edinburgh, I got a crash course in how my two months would pan out and have enjoyed every minute. From meeting the staff, interns and some of Scotland’s Fairtrade campaigners and activists to getting a closer insight into some of the amazing work the charity has completed over last few years.