Mr Bent Gehrt from the Worker’s Rights Consortium came in to speak to us and he told us that for a company to lower their expenses, they created their production factories in LEDC countries with lowest minimum wages. Usually these conditions are harsh and unbearable. We were also able to experience some poverty first hand as if we were on the streets. How? We made paper bags of course!
It wasn’t easy; the sizes, prices AND the amount of paper bags needed to be made was tough. It was joyous and frustrating at the same time; the paper bags were inspected very carefully by the shopkeepers, who were played by Mrs. Chappell and Mr. Vernon. It was a 30 minute session and 50% of the bags were not accepted. Some of the groups even resorted to stealing! What they didn’t realise was the bags they stole hadn’t been completed and so they went up to sell half made paper bags! The aim of the game was to make as many rupees as we could - some groups got 14 and more where some didn’t get more than 1!
People’s thoughts about the day:
“It was an eye-opening experience into the world of corporate greed, abysmal living and working conditions.”
“At the beginning of the day I had no knowledge of the injustice going on in the clothing industries! I buy lots of clothes from stores. I will definitely rethink buying clothes from certain companies again.”
After Lunch we had to think up some questions to ask different teachers who were playing the roles of corporate manager, sweat-shop worker, customer and demonstrator. After we had drilled all the information we could get out of them our main teacher, Mrs. Gavin in our case, came back and instructed us to write a reflection and the evaluation.
Many of us were annoyed that the day was over when we were all sent home because it was the best awkward timetable day EVER!
Pheobe (So9), Ae (S9) and Connor (C9)
