2019 – 2020 Funded Grants

Colombia

Replacing Unhealthy Kitchens 2019-53
Cauca
Funded by: DRWakefield

For the women of Colombia, the family meals are prepared in unsanitary and unsafe conditions. Food is being prepared over open fires that cause respiratory illnesses for the women and small children. This grant will repair or replace kitchens to improve health for nine families. The kitchens will include stoves that vent to the outside, water plumbed to the inside, and work surfaces providing better sanitary conditions. They will be built with sustainable materials and the project will also serve as a sustainable construction training program for young people. All labor will be provided by the family as well as a portion of the investment in material costs.

Guatemala

Chicken Roost Construction, Egg Collections, Resource Security 2019-55
Nahuala
Funded by: Red Rock Roasters

The women raise chickens and use the waste as fertilizer in the coffee farms and gardens. As additional income, they also collect and sell the eggs for more than eight months (the life spam of the laying hens). The hens also provide meat for their diets. This grant provides materials to fence the chicken area to keep them safe from other animals. The chicken coupe aims to improve the breeding of healthy chickens and to provide a continuous food source for the women and families.

School Library Teacher & Supplies 2019-56
Nahuala
Funded by: Alpen Sierra Coffee Roasting Company

The community library has been an immediate source for children at primary and secondary levels of school. The Child Aid Institution together with the Nahualá Cooperative have funded the provision of books as well as reading and writing programs in participation with local schools. Since 2007, funding for these important programs has become increasing difficult to provide. With support of this project, the community library will be able to continue providing quality education programs for children and their families. This grant is the core of the education for this community and surrounding communities. It serves to educate not only the children, but also the interested adults.

Non-Chemical Composting Project 2019-59
Nahuala
Funded by: DRWakefield

Improve the ongoing producation of organic biofertilizers by increasing the number of worm fertilizer farms to increase the organic liquid and solid fertilizers they harvest to control pests and disease such as coffee rust, fertilizers for flowers as well as fertilizers for growth. Project is taking place on the partner's organic farms. Goal is to produce more organic worm-fertilizer to improve the quality of their organic coffee, vegetables and other plants. This grant will purchase worms and worm compost, as well as pay for project manager to harvest the fertilizer every three months.

Organic Gardens and Food-Prep Workshops 2019-60
Guatemala - Nahuala
Funded by: Cafe Femenino Foundation Supporters

In order to reduce the incidents of malnutrition and improve the family income the women are giving the opportunity to participate in an organic gardening and food preparation workshop. These are very poor coffee farmers in a very remote community, they don’t have the extra funds to purchase seeds and fertilizers. This grant will provide the funding needed for the seeds for the garden, the organic compost and liquid fertilizers as well as the cost of the training workshop. 50 families (5-6 per household) will benefit from this grant being funded.

Peru

Beekeeping 2018-14 (funded in 2019)
Murajaga
Funded by: Rappahannock-Fredericksburg Rotary Club

Coffee is now the main income generating product in the Lambayeque region of Northern Peru, however the market price volatility makes it difficult for producers’ when prices are low. The beekeeping project consists of purchasing materials to build the bee boxes, bees, harvest equipment and workshops on all aspects of beekeeping. Workshops planned will address: Bee-Honey Production; Care of Bees; Honey Harvest, Royal Jelly, Pollen; Processing and Packaging of Honey; Uses of Honey in Food; Packaging and Labels.

A successful bee project will not only provide a second income, it will improve the coffee production by pollinating the coffee flower. The pollination will contribute to improving the quality of the coffee and other grains grown in the region.

It will provide additional income for six (6) families in the three communities of Villarumi, Tallapampa and Pampa Verde. These funds will be setup as a micro loan and in two years the funds will be offered to six more families. Families apply for the funds needed to start their beekeeping business and agree to pay the funds back within two years.

Emergency Medical Loan Funds 2019-01
Peru
Funded by: 23 Degrees Coffee

Peru – Women’s Coffee and Quinoa Association Members
This request comes from a need to provide minimum financial resources necessary to allow women coffee producers to access emergency medical treatment. Health problems are now more prevalent because they are not diagnosed promptly due to the fact that they don’t have the money to pay for a medical visit, testing or to buy any medication that could improve their condition.

This project will have Two Phases:
1) First Aid Training for the community health promoters;
2) Funds available for the women who apply for a medical emergency loan. Priority attention will be given to accidents, early detection of all types of cancer,hemorrhages, respiratory difficulties, trauma, loss of consciousness, intoxication, intense abdominal pain, disorientation in time-space, burns, childbirth, poisoning, etc.

Funds for training are approximately 15% of the requested total, with the balance available for emergency medical loans.

EMERGENCY: Road and irrigation system repair project 2019-02
ASPAPE - Murajaga, Tallapampa, Caracha
Funded by: Joe Van Gogh

The roads and irrigation systems in San Mateo de Penachi were destroyed by the heavy rains. This request was for funds to provide fuel for the heavy equipment to repair the roads and for food to feed the workers that came together for many communities to provide the labor to repair the roads and irrigation systems. This opened up the road way so that the coffee crops could be moved to the processing plant and food could be brought in and out of the communities.

Water Reservoir Construction 2019-09
Lambayeque Community of Pampa Hermosa (Kanaris)
Funded by: Darkwoods Coffee Roasters

This community is one of extreme poverty and needs assistance to improve the productivity of the crops and pastures. Water is scarce and water management is difficult.

Climate change has seriously affected the cultivation of both coffee and food, rainfall has been reduced to only four months per year. They have been able to distribute the water through a system of channels to the producers by flooding, which can cause erosion of the soils and under-utilization of the water resources. This grant will build small reservoirs that benefit 4 or 5 families and allow them to store their water quotas and install a sprinkler irrigation system. This would make it possible to have enough water at the time of the flowering of the coffee and to achieve an increase in production and quality, as well as ensure water for production of vegetables and quinoa and kiwicha. Funds will be used for materials (cement, pipes, plastic liners, sprinklers and hose) to construct the reservoirs, as well as qualified workforce, transportation of materials and some technical advice.

Water Reservoir Construction 2019-11
Lambayeque Community of Santa Rosa/Espinal (Kanaris)
Funded by: Kaladi Coffee

This community is one of extreme poverty and needs assistance to improve the productivity of the crops and pastures. Water is scarce and water management is difficult.

Climate change has seriously affected the cultivation of both coffee and food, rainfall has been reduced to only four months per year. They have been able to distribute the water through a system of channels to the producers by flooding, which can cause erosion of the soils and under-utilization of the water resources. This grant will build small reservoirs that benefit 4 or 5 families and allow them to store their water quotas and install a sprinkler irrigation system. This would make it possible to have enough water at the time of the flowering of the coffee and to achieve an increase in production and quality, as well as ensure water for production of vegetables and quinoa and kiwicha. Funds will be used for materials (cement, pipes, plastic liners, sprinklers and hose) to construct the reservoirs, as well as qualified workforce, transportation of materials and some technical advice.

UPDATE: May 12, 2021
Have not been able to move forward due to the problem of the rains and damaged roads. Plan is to finish in June, 2021.UPDATE: October 7, 2021 Photos

UPDATE: November 1, 2021
Pipes are laid and water is not available to the property. The workshop on the sprinkler irrigation system will take place the end of November. Final report to be submitted after the workshop.

Construction of Wet Mill Plant 2019-13
Amazonas - Community: San Antonio El Ron
Funded by: Stringbean Coffee Co

The ultimate goal is to standardize and improve the quality of the coffee for the ten coffee producers (four are women producers). They have good quality coffee, but unfortunately the quality deteriorates post-harvest due to poor infrastructure at the wet mill. These producers are making significant investments to improve their coffee farms to improve the quality of the coffee, but now they also need to improve their wet mill plant resources and they don’t have the financial resources needed.

This project would centralize the process of de-pulping, fermentation, washing and drying of the coffee by implementing a small wet mill plant consisting of a coated receiving tank, two coated tanks for fermentation, running channels, a drying patio, an electric de-pulper and a solar dryer. These resources will improve the quality of the coffee drying improve the quality of the coffee in the cup, ensure product safety, improve the income of the coffee producer and allow them to start harvesting the coffee cherry shell.

UPDATE: 03-18-2021
The target date for completion of the construction of the wet mill beneficio was scheduled for March 15, 2021. However, due to a few cases of Covid-19 in the community has slowed down the process. The good news is that those with Covid-19 are recovering and soon they will all be ready to work together to complete this project. Here are a few photos showing the progress that has been made:

UPDATE: November 1, 2021

UPDATE: December 10, 2021

Water Reservoir Construction 2019-14
Amazonas - Community of Churumayo (Santa Cruz)
Funded by: Kerry

This community is one of extreme poverty and needs assistance to improve the productivity of the crops and pastures. Water is scarce and water management is difficult.

Climate change has seriously affected the cultivation of both coffee and food, rainfall has been reduced to only four months per year. They have been able to distribute the water through a system of channels to the producers by flooding, which can cause erosion of the soils and under-utilization of the water resources. This grant will build small reservoirs that benefit 4 or 5 families and allow them to store their water quotas and install a sprinkler irrigation system. This would make it possible to have enough water at the time of the flowering of the coffee and to achieve an increase in production and quality, as well as ensure water for production of vegetables and quinoa and kiwicha. Funds will be used for materials (cement*, pipes*, plastic liners, sprinklers and hose) to construct the reservoirs, as well as qualified workforce, transportation of materials and some technical advice.

Water Reservoir Construction 2019-18
Peru – Community of Chinama (Kanaris)
Funded by: UP Coffee Roasters

This community is one of extreme poverty and needs assistance to improve the productivity of the crops and pastures. Water is scarce and water management is difficult.

Climate change has seriously affected the cultivation of both coffee and food, rainfall has been reduced to only four months per year. They have been able to distribute the water through a system of channels to the producers by flooding, which can cause erosion of the soils and under-utilization of the water resources. This grant will build small reservoirs that benefit 4 or 5 families and allow them to store their water quotas and install a sprinkler irrigation system. This would make it possible to have enough water at the time of the flowering of the coffee and to achieve an increase in production and quality, as well as ensure water for production of vegetables and quinoa and kiwicha. Funds will be used for materials (cement*, pipes*, plastic liners, sprinklers and hose) to construct the reservoirs, as well as qualified workforce, transportation of materials and some technical advice.

Water Reservoir Construction 2019-19
Peru – Lambayeque, Community of Naranjo (Kanaris)
Funded by: Caffe Ibis

This community is one of extreme poverty and needs assistance to improve the productivity of the crops and pastures. Water is scarce and water management is difficult. Climate change has seriously affected the cultivation of both coffee and food, rainfall has been reduced to only four months per year. They have been able to distribute the water through a system of channels to the producers by flooding, which can cause erosion of the soils and under-utilization of the water resources. This grant will build small reservoirs that benefit 4 or 5 families and allow them to store their water quotas and install a sprinkler irrigation system. This would make it possible to have enough water at the time of the flowering of the coffee and to achieve an increase in production and quality, as well as ensure water for production of vegetables and quinoa and kiwicha. Funds will be used for materials (cement, pipes, plastic liners, sprinklers and hose) to construct the reservoirs, as well as qualified workforce, transportation of materials and some technical advice.

Construction of Wet Mill Tank Modules 2019-20
Lambayeque Community: Machucara-Hierba Buena-Santa Rose-Espinal (Kanaris)
Funded by: Darkwoods Coffee Roasters

These coffee producers have worked hard and by organizing and maintaining their organic and fair-trade certifications have been able to produce a high-quality coffee. In recent years their farms have been seriously affected by yellow rust making it difficult to meet industry quality standards. This project supports these coffee producers by implementing a wet mill infrastructure consisting of coated fermentation tank and cement patios to help maintain the quality of the coffee and sustain their niche in the specialty coffee market. The funds will be managed as a loan – to begin 5 or more producers will apply for funds and as the funds are repaid they will be made available to other women coffee producers.

UPDATE: 6-18-2020
Wet Mill Modules in Machucara: They are unable to transport the cement due to quarantine. Hope is the quarantine will be lifted and the supplies can be transported and used in July-August, 2020UPDATE: 10-10-2020
Project has been started; cement was delivered for the construction of the wet processing modules in Machucará. In addition, we are pleased to announce that the Ministry of Health will be building bathrooms for them. It is a great step in improving the health conditions of the population. The coffee producers are the leaders on these projects.

Product Diversification - Second Crop Cacao 2019-28
Amazonas - Community of Ramada & Santa Rosa/Espinal
Funded by: Kerry

This area has been hit with many challenges. Climate change and reduced rain/water is causing more disease resulting in a decrease of coffee production and the coffee to be smaller and not making the coffee as marketable and significantly impacting the family’s income. In an attempt to overcome the reduced income they are requesting assistance to generate a second income by the cultivation of cacao on the lower areas of their farms. The producers would have two products to offer in the market: coffee in the high areas and cacao in the lower areas. Funding would provide workshops to cover all aspects of cacao farming, such as: propagation of the cacao seedlings; planting seedlings in field; composting of the farm; pest and disease control; management of pruning; management of the cultivation of cacao, management of post harvest of cacao; and, benefit of the cacao infrastructure design. This pilot project will provide cacao pilot projects to 10 women coffee producers: 5 in the community of Ramada and 5 in the community of Santa Rosa/Espinal. They will be trained in all aspects of the cultivation of cacao as a secondary crop to coffee. If this pilot project is successful it will be replicated in other communities facing the same problem.

UPDATE: May 12, 2021
280 plants have been planted in La Ramada. As soon as the rainy season ends and the roads are repaired plants will be planted in Santa Rosa / Espinal.UPDATE: January 31, 2022

Water Reservoir Construction 2019-29
Community of Naranjo (Kanaris)
Funded by: Darkwoods Coffee Roasters

This community is one of extreme poverty and needs assistance to improve the productivity of the crops and pastures. Water is scarce and water management is difficult. Climate change has seriously affected the cultivation of both coffee and food, rainfall has been reduced to only four months per year. They have been able to distribute the water through a system of channels to the producers by flooding, which can cause erosion of the soils and under-utilization of the water resources. This grant will build small reservoirs that benefit 4 or 5 families and allow them to store their water quotas and install a sprinkler irrigation system. This would make it possible to have enough water at the time of the flowering of the coffee and to achieve an increase in production and quality, as well as ensure water for production of vegetables and quinoa and kiwicha. Funds will be used for materials (cement*, pipes*, plastic liners, sprinklers and hose) to construct the reservoirs, as well as qualified workforce, transportation of materials and some technical advice.

UPDATE: December, 2021
The project was delayed because the government came in to the community to work on a big project and halted completion of the wet mill project. The new completion date is set for March, 2022. As soon as the other project is complete the community members will be able to finish the water reservoir in Naranjo.

Early Education Centers (132 students) 2019-30a
Communities: Chinama, Cruz de Mayo, La Cria Huanama, San Jose Huanamam Villarumi, Murujaga, Tallapampa, Huacapampa
Funded by: Kerry

The children in rural Peru are severely malnourished, this grant provides funds needed to educate the teachers, parents and students on food nutritional value and how to incorporate the foods into their daily diet with the goal of reducing malnutrition in the rural coffee producing communities in Peru. This is year seventh of this program. Each year the impact is measured by a visiting nurse taking, and recording, the height and weight of the students ages 3-5 three times per year. In total, 269 students, 164 parents and 25 teachers in 15 rural early education centers will participate in this program. The curriculum for the early education center students also includes personal hygiene and dental care. Funds will cover the cost of the traveling nurse three times a year, as well as materials needed for the early education centers such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, wash clothes, crayons, books, paper, glue, lunch boxes, mats for the floor where the children sit and play for each education center.

Early Education Centers (22 students) 2019-30c
Cajamarca Communities of Aqua Azul, La Chira, El Triunfo
Funded by: Shuswap Coffee Company

The children in rural Peru are severely malnourished, this grant provides funds needed to educate the teachers, parents and students on food nutritional value and how to incorporate the foods into their daily diet with the goal of reducing malnutrition in the rural coffee producing communities in Peru. This is year six of this program. Each year the impact is measured by a visiting nurse taking, and recording, the height and weight of the students ages 3-5 three times per year. In total, 269 students, 164 parents and 25 teachers in 15 rural early education centers will participate in year five of this program. The curriculum for the early education center students also includes personal hygiene and dental care. Funds will cover the cost of the traveling nurse three times a year, as well as materials needed for the early education centers such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, wash clothes, crayons, books, paper, glue, lunch boxes, mats for the floor where the children sit and play for each education center.

Greenhouse Garden & Organic Vegetable Cultivation Workshops 2019-34
Peru - Amazonas
Funded by: Grounds For Change

Using tunnel greenhouse construction and utilizing local materials to cover with mesh to achieve a permanent structure that will enhance the production of vegetables, quinoa and kiwicha and improve the quantity and quality of the crop. This greenhouse structure will help to avoid pests and diseases common in open field cultivation. The availability of vegetables and grains in the community, as well as the educational workshops on nutrition, hygiene and cleaning practices will improve the food diet of all community members.
These funds will provide greenhouse materials for five greenhouse structures and the workshops to manage the crops; education workshops on proper nutrition and food preparation, as well as the importance of proper food-prep hygiene.

UPDATE: Dec 12, 2021

Kitchen Improvement 2019-38
Cajamarca Communities of: Churumayo, Paltomayo, Pacaipite, La Union, Pena Blanca, Chaupe Cruz, Naranjo
Funded by: Kerry

Most of the family kitchens in these rural communities are without windows or lighting. The walls and ceilings are low, not allowing light to come in, making it difficult to see what they are cooking in their pots, “it’s like cooking in the dark”. There is a lot of soot on the walls and ceilings that is contaminating their food and causing respiratory illnesses in the women and children who are more often in the kitchens. This project will implement 50 kitchen improvements (new raised cooking surfaces and ventilating the smoke to the outside), workshops on the benefits of the improved kitchen, as well as workshops on how to maintain the improved kitchens. The overall goal is to provide a safe, more smoke/soot free environment and reduce the incidences of respiratory disease in these communities.

UPDATE: Jan 20, 2022
Not all distributions have been made, they are currently on the schedule for distribution February 15, 2022

Kitchen Improvement 2019-40
Peru - Lambayeque; San Jose Huanama, Huanama, La Cria, El Naranjo, Chinama, Corral de Piedra
HA Bennet

Most of the family kitchens in these rural communities are without windows or lighting. The walls and ceilings are low, not allowing light to come in, making it difficult to see what they are cooking in their pots, “it’s like cooking in the dark”. There is a lot of soot on the walls and ceilings that is contaminating their food and causing respiratory illnesses in the women and children who are more often in the kitchens. This project will implement 50 kitchen improvements (new raised cooking surfaces and ventilating the smoke to the outside), workshops on the benefits of the improved kitchen, as well as workshops on how to maintain the improved kitchens. The overall goal is to provide a safe, more smoke/soot free environment and reduce the incidences of respiratory disease in these communities.

UPDATE: Jan 20, 2022
Not all distributions have been made, they are currently on the schedule for distribution February 15, 2022

Kitchen Improvement 2019-41
Peru – Cococho, Guadealupe, Yungasuyo, Virgin of Fatima, Santa Rosa, Porvenir, Chaupe, Nueva York, Roblepampa, Huambouya
HA Bennet

Most of the family kitchens in these rural communities are without windows or lighting. The walls and ceilings are low, not allowing light to come in, making it difficult to see what they are cooking in their pots, “it’s like cooking in the dark”. There is a lot of soot on the walls and ceilings that is contaminating their food and causing respiratory illnesses in the women and children who are more often in the kitchens. This project will implement 50 kitchen improvements (new raised cooking surfaces and ventilating the smoke to the outside), workshops on the benefits of the improved kitchen, as well as workshops on how to maintain the improved kitchens. The overall goal is to provide a safe, more smoke/soot free environment and reduce the incidences of respiratory disease in these communities.

Food Preparation Workshops 2019-43
Peru
HA Bennet

Malnutrition, for several reasons, exist in Peru. There is a shortage of food in the household of most rural populations and in some communities they are consuming some poor quality processed foods that are enriched with toxic additives and addictive sugars. Contributing also is a more sedentary lifestyle, resulting in the increase of cardiovascular, metabolic and degenerative diseases at a very early age. These regional workshops is to raise awareness and motivate them to produce their own healthy foods and demonstrate the benefits of good food choice verses the damage being done by processed foods. The goal is to start the movement to change lives not only for now for the future. Life-long lifestyle changes. Workshops will teach them what heathy foods are available in the region, how to grow new food options, process and prepare, including recipes for, the foods such as quinoa, kiwicha, vegetables, fruits, coffee and cocoa. Other workshops offered will be nutritional combinations, hygiene and food preservation, organic gardens and the benefits, malnutrition based on deprivation and excess and offer information on a balanced diet, quinoa and kiwicha as food security foods and the nutritional benefits of coffee and cocoa.

Rwanda

Food Supplement Program for Babies/Children 2019-51
Funded by Cafe Femenino Foundation

Sumatra

Coffee Drying Beds 2019-52
Funded by: Kerry

The purpose of this project is to improve the quality of coffee by improving the infrastructure for drying of the coffee beans during the wet season to prevent any possible fermenting, and weathered defects. They will implement seven drying stations in six villages. Each will manage activities in accordance with the level of ability to perform production and the number of members utilizing the raised drying beds.