One more year, one more training!

Another year is gone... another auditor’s training as well…

As every year, most of the auditors, analysts, managers, and some other Fairtrade actors traveled from all around the continent to meet each other during the Auditors’ Training 2009.

The Latin Americans met in San José, Costa Rica and the Africans in Cape Town, South Africa (the Asians will meet soon in Kochi, India). Some had gained some weight, others lost some hair... the live of a FLO-CERT auditor is not always easy… But all of us were happy to spend some time together and were full of energy, not only to learn a lot about one of the currently fastest growing certification schemes in the world, but also to catch up about the latest news and celebrate with the old friends!. The new faces were scarcer this time, however all of them were welcomed to the great Fairtrade family.

As every year, every auditor’s training has its own surprises. This 2009, the auditors were surprised with the launch of E-cert, which against any prognostics, experienced an instantaneous acceptance and they even seemed to like it; moreover some are eager to start working with it!! Another strong component this year were the “New compliance criteria for small farmers” and the “Generic Trade Standards” (GTS), which came full of new and exiting requirements in order to make the system more delightful and our lives a bit more complicated…

The reactions to such an agenda were diverse. Some of the most experienced auditors left with the impression that they did not learn so much, while the new auditors were impressed by the complexity of the Fairtrade world and satisfied because they have always the chance to learn new “tricks” to refine their techniques when they go to these kind of activities. Few auditors complained because the agenda was so tight that they had not the opportunity to talk about the topics they had in mind or mention the thousand examples that they know, while other auditors would like to work longer days and spend the night discussing about how to improve their work.

However, at the end of the event the relationship is always “win-win” and the balance is positive: analysts and managers feel that they have gained experience from the field, transmitted through the eyes and words of the auditors themselves; auditors by their side are able comprehend a bit better the latest trends of our organization and the destination markets.

Actually it is really amazing to have the opportunity to take part of these meetings.

You always experience the feeling of being part of something bigger: the continental representation of the Fairtrade movement.

We are all proud of our work and of providing our small brick to help building a stronger movement. At the end, what brings us together is the spirit to work for a better world in which trade takes place in a fairer way.

Adelante compañeros!

Written by Gabriela Centeno, Certification Analyst for Latin America. FLO-CERT.

Brushstrokes for the soul

I was going past the banana processing plant, 5 minutes before we were due to have the opening meeting. As I walked towards the office, I went over details from the previous audit: two hundred and nineteen workers, and amongst the non-conformities: containers of herbicides which they used for the pathways, management had not recognised the right to Freedom of Association…

- “Don Eduardo”, a dark skinned lady said to me as she took off the hairnet which must has to be worn in the cleaning area.
- “Yes…everything all right?” I responded while sorting papers in my bag.
- “Great to meet you!” and she immediately told me her name, which I never again remembered and she continued.
- “You the man from fair trade?”
- “Well, yes, I am the auditor,” “and you are?” I asked, even though it was obvious that she worked in the processing plant.
- “I´ve been working in the cleaning area for three years”, she replied, “are you here to see about the yonboi (referring to the Joing Body?) housing projects?”
I looked at this slim woman who seemed about 50 years old and in seconds I had to take in her question.
- “Yes, I have come here to do the Fair Trade audit, some of the things we are going to look at are the use of the Premium by the Joint body and progress of the housing project”, I told her, trying not to complicate my explanation.

- The thing is I wanted to see if you could help get me a little house. If all goes well with you, then maybe the people from the yonboi will give me the little house for my family.

- “Well…,” I stammered, “I am here to carry out an Audit,” I explained while I tried to maintain some professional objectivity whilst dealing with this lady who wanted to offload her profound genuine desires.

- “Yes, yes, I know!” she interrupted to continue with her aim. “But, it´s true you can help me?” she inquired: thus showing that she would let go of this opportunity to get her house, not while in front of her stood the auditor who she looked at as her hope.
What a way to start the audit!, I thought. I was being coerced by a genuine desire straight from this lady’s heart. What did not seem right was that in her mind this man was responsible for sorting out her housing problem, and only because the title of FLO-CERT auditor seemed so impressive to her.

- “Well, let’s see how it goes for us?” I told her in an attempt to avoid hearing her housing solution.

- “But, you´ll help me, won´t you?” she insisted with a look on her face between hope and pleading.

- “Let’s see how it goes for us? I am only here to audit. The decision about the use of the Premium is a matter for you, the workers.”
While wanting to flee, I thought to myself that I was there to check non-conformities of a suspension, but I quickly realised that this lady deserved all of my attention.I looked at her and I said:
- “Madam, I am here to carry out the Audit. The decisión to assign a home to somebody is not my responsibility. I truly hope that everything turns out well! And, let’s hope that those projects wanted by the workers can get under way,” I told her whilst trying to be honest with the lady, and decided to head for the company’s office to begin the opening meeting.

Those three days on the banana farm brought more herbicide containers on the pathways, some risk conditions for the transparent use of the FT Premium, a written statement of the Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining of which the workers were not aware and the unforeseen greeting from the lady whose desires wishes I remembered more better than her name.

At the end of Wednesday the closing meeting was exhausting. The tension never once left that room. The non conformities compromised the certification of the company and, this then complicated the sales of bananas. Everyone in the room understood this fact.
During the presentation of the results, I coldly hid behind the objectivity of each of words expressed in the regulations and in the compliance criteria. It acted as my shield against the annoyance of those present. The end of the meeting came with a deep breath and a silent “it’s finished!”

At the end I still had just about enough energy for some heartfelt goodbyes. Finally, I was going out the door to head for the hotel when the voice from the first day said to me:
- Don Eduardo, how did it go?
I looked at this lady, who, due to the intensity of her desire, had the will to wait until the end of the closing meeting.

- “So-so,” I answered. That was my answer so as to avoid telling her the results of the meeting and also to avoid shattering her dreams; although I did not want to boost up her hopes.

- “Ah! So-so,” she repeated while looking down at the floor and understanding that this might not be the path to her home.

- “Yes, so-so,” I confirmed.
As with so many people who I met on audits, I never again knew anything of that lady from the banana cleaning area.

It was always like that.

Reality persistently insists on adding an additional brushstroke to every audit. The black and white of the Report or the Check List might be enough for some. For those of whom the shades of life are important, there is a place which changes with each brushstroke added: the soul.

(A true story in which changes have only been made to the circumstances related to the non-conformities and the certification process.)


Written by Eduardo Delgado R. FLO-CERT Auditor

Here I am, again, auditing in Chile

The producers themselves tell me that they’d, in a second, give me Chilean and why not even Curican citizenship (The people from Curicó, a province of the VII region in Chile where there are grape producers, small producers as well as hired labour.)

It is not my first time in this city, but the sixth. I meet with producers- infrastructurally small, but dependent on manual labour- who I am visiting for the second or third time.

It is interesting to see every year how they change and grow in relation to Fairtrade certification; this is especially interesting at the level of hired labour, how the workers each day have more and more faith in the Fairtrade.

Another substantial part of our audit concerns the Fairtrade Premium, a certain amount of money which means big changes for the workers.
From chats with the workers I have encountered many uses of the Fairtrade Premium, varying from study grants and repairing homes to dental health loans, something which in this country and mine is very expensive.

They mention that they feel better about themselves as a result, and they also say significant things like “now our neighbours are jealous of us.” -¿Jealousy? ¿Why? – I ask them.

-Because, at first, this Fairtrade thing was hard work, but the benefits are now being seen… and as you know, everybody now wants to work in this fund…
Another worker adds, “for sure, before, they all laughed at our Joint Body meetings, and now they ask how we were able to become a member to join in…”

In another vineyard during the same audit, I was continuing to look for possible uses when a worker told me, “We have made a lot of inquiries amongst our colleagues, and many have told me that they don’t have sheets or towels.”
I didn’t manage to conceal a reaction of astonishment, and the lady continued, “yes, many of us only had new sheets when we got married…” I don´t say anything to them, I only listen to them, trying to check standard criteria.

It is only an initial audit, they are looking for probable uses, filling out questionnaires, they show me their notes,… but the first worker is not content with my silence, he looks at me directly and says to me - Does the same not happen to you, miss? -I try and get away from this question and only manage to say, that no, that I’m single and the man asks me again…–
- But, do you have sheets, then?

This simplicity of the workers and their innocence when taking part in the audit makes the Premium no longer a fixed monetary value for each product unit; instead, it becomes another way of aiding the growth of the beneficiaries of this chain we call Fairtrade; a way of meeting of their necessities, desires and need to improve every day; and the best of all, a response given by them themselves.

Written by Maria Laura Bardotti, FLO-CERT's Auditor living in Argentina

Auditing in Chile

I'm out in Chile auditing right now

Every time I go to out the country I come back full of the enthusiasm which the producers show me.
I'm seen here as a visitor rather than as an auditor who'll explain my job to them. And, it is easy to see since several of them told me on leaving ... come back and visit us again, little one“ or „next time you take a trip out here, make it longer so we can talk more“

That they opened their house doors (and also those of the chemical storing sheds) with such openness made it possible to interview them without them feeling pressurized, which led to them answering freely.

Trying to check out the working conditions criteria, I turned the conversation towards the harvest, and there came answers like these: „listen, my little one, I do the mingaco on Sundays...I can't pay for harvesting, so when it's like that I also go off to other's mingacos.“„And....?what's mingaco, anyway?- driven by curiosity I just had to ask.
„Mingaco is a party“ she replied. „ All the kids, grandchildren, neighbours, amigos, and they work for free and instead get food for the harvest.“

Mingaco is a party.....I try to probe a little deeper.

Without wanting to, while several producers describe the mingaco to me, I picture the scenes that their stories create: that they prepare breakfast, they kill a pig, they prepare the beans, all of which has to be had with wine.... and on the inside I was dying to be at one of these events.

„And of course, if it is a rainy year the mingaco gets started on Saturday and carries on into Sunday, if it is a dry year, then only on Sunday“.

Of course, we're in a dry wine grape growing area. And one in which the concept of neighbourhood still exists even though there are long walking distances between neighbours, where there's still romantic producers who say....“yeah, young lady, I do mingaco, even though deep inside I know it would be cheaper to pay harvesters and even to pay them the fees (insurance, obligations to the state)... I have to work more, animals need to be killed, and food prepared, but ?Who'd take our party away?“

„On these days harvesting is more fun and it is nothing but the task of all“ he said. He added „I also do mingaco by cutting, although I know it doesn't come naturally to me because old guys, 60 year old men, including some of my 11 older brothers, who don't like how we cut, come up to me and tell me that they were born able to cut well and that I, a 44 year old, am never going to teach them how...but, you know, I am also not going to deprive them of mingaco...?

don't you think?

I loved the word, that's why I have written it several times.
I loved the meaning, it was great to hear it straight from the participants themselves, who take from this solidarity, the brotherhood which comes from happiness with the year's work when the final harvest comes...

Written by Maria Laura Bardotti, FLO-CERT's Auditor living in Argentina