About this film

Gola Rainforest National Park

Guardians of the Rainforest is a film from Trading Visions and Fairtrade Schools which tells the inspirational story of the cocoa farmers of the Gola Rainforest in Sierra Leone.

14-year-old Beshey shares the story of his family, explaining how the cocoa farmers of the Ngoleagorbu co-operative have come together to protect the forest and develop their communities through Fairtrade.

The challenge for the people of the forest edge is to find ways to increase their income without harming the rainforest. In a project supported by the RSPB, Comic Relief, IDH and Divine Chocolate, the farmers have come together to form a co-operative called Ngoleagorbu ("we who live at the forest edge") to practice 'forest friendly farming' and improve their own lives.

The film has accompanying teaching resources aimed primarily at Key Stages 2 and 3.

More information about the Gola Rainforest National Park, including the role of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) which has been a long standing supporter of the forest and the communities that live around it.

Links to further resources

Fairtrade Schools Award

Pa Pa Paa teaching resources

Fairtrade Schools is an award scheme for schools that enables young people to learn that, whatever their age, they have the power to make a difference in the world. Teaching about Fairtrade fits different curriculum areas, especially Geography, Citizenship and PSHE.

The Pa Pa Paa resources tell the story of cocoa and chocolate. They aim to increase young people's understanding of Fairtrade, and the actions they can take as consumers and global citizens to make the world a better place.