Ashland teens to reverse trick-or-treat

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From left, Anya Ludwig, Yeruti Estigarribia, Nayeon Kim, Jasmine Terry-Shindelman, and Sadie Shelton. They are taking part in Reverse Trick or Treating, handing out samples of vegan-friendly, Fair Trade dark chocolate. The candy will come with information on ending poverty among cocoa farmers, and forced/abusive child labor in the cocoa industry. Jim Craven / Daily TidingsJim Craven

By Hannah Guzik

Ashland Daily Tidings

October 30, 2009

When they open their doors to trick-or-treaters Saturday, Ashland adults may be the ones receiving candy.

A dozen Ashland High School students are planning to do "reverse trick-or-treating" to help promote fair-trade chocolate.

The students — members of the high school's Global Citizen Corp club — will distribute informational cards and chocolate, donated by fair-trade companies, to 70 homes.

"We're helping spread awareness about fair trade," said Nayeon Kim, 16, who is organizing the event. "We're trying to help make the world a better place."

The national reverse trick-or-treating campaign is an initiative of Global Exchange, a human-rights advocacy group, and is designed to encourage consumers to press major chocolate companies to change their cocoa-sourcing policies.

Fair trade standards were created to promote sustainability, end abusive child labor and help farmers earn a living wage, according to Global Exchange.

About 250,000 people will receive fair-trade chocolate during reverse trick-or-treating this year, according to the organization.

The Ashland students plan to break into groups of two or three so they can visit several neighborhoods, Nayeon said.

Social studies teacher Jane Claussen, the Global Citizen Corp advisor, said she is impressed by the students' decision to promote a cause on Halloween — instead of partying like many of their peers.

"I think it demonstrates that they're mature and caring in ways we don't normally think of teenagers as being," she said.

The reverse trick-or-treating event is an opportunity for Yeruti Estigarribia, 17, to learn about fair trade, she said.

"I honestly don't know much about it," she said, "but I thought it would be fun to help out a friend and learn a bunch."

The fact that 11 of her peers signed up to participate in the event excited Global Citizen Corp Co-President Sadie Shelton, 16.

"It just makes you realize that a lot of young students are interested in this," she said. "There is hope to change the world because these are the students who will one day lead."

For more information on reverse trick-or-treating, see www.reversetrickortreating.org.

Contact staff writer Hannah Guzik at 482-3456 ext. 226 or hguzik@dailytidings.com.