2019 – 2020 Grants

Please call Marilyn @ (360) 909-8671 if you would like more information about this grant request. Description to be added soon.

Please call Marilyn @ (360) 909-8671 if you would like more information about this grant request. Description to be added soon.

Please call Marilyn @ (360) 909-8671 if you would like more information about this grant request. Description to be added soon.

Please call Marilyn @ (360) 909-8671 if you would like more information about this grant request. Description to be added soon.

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.

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.

As in most all remote coffee-producing communities there is a desperate need for an additional family income. The women in the Cooperative of Nahuala have expressed interest in the art of soap making. After training workshops the soap making process can be done at home allowing the woman to be home to take care of her family. In many cases, these women are widowed or separated and may even have 5 to 6 children in their care making getting ahead a struggle. The soap product will be used for washing clothes, dishes, etc., cutting down on some expenses and give the women another skill that is beneficial to their family and their community. This grant will provide materials, such as the soap molds, fragrances, coloring, trainer and training materials need to start a soap making business.

Please call Marilyn @ (360) 909-8671 if you would like more information about this grant request. Description to be added soon.

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.

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.

Please call Marilyn @ (360) 909-8671 if you would like more information about this grant request. Description to be added soon.

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.

The existing wet mill plant and warehouse were damaged by the rains. It was built in 2005 and damaged in the rains of 2017. The producers have not had the resources to repair it and are asking for financial assistance. They have good quality coffee, but unfortunately the quality deteriorates post-harvest due to the poor infrastructure of the individual wet mills of each producer and they are facing not being able to sell their coffee due to not being able to meet the quality standards of the specialty coffee market.
These producers are making significant investments to improve their coffee farms to improve the quality of the coffee, they, like many others, face the problem of coffee rust and have been unable to make the financial investment to repair their plant and warehouse. This project would resume centralization of the process of de-pulping, fermentation, washing and drying of the coffee, repairing the wet mill plant and warehouse, repairing and coating the tanks and repairing the channels and drying patio. It would install 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
* additional materials needed

In addition to working in their coffee farms and duties such as cooking, washing clothes, home care, childcare these women also spend evenings and Sundays learning and utilizing a new craft such as weaving, crochet and embroidery. The objective is to empower the women to improve the techniques and quality of the finished product for sales at the markets and to be able to contribute to the income of their family. The funds will provide training, seed capital for yarn, wool and fabric, participation on local fairs and a workshop on self-esteem and leadership.

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.

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.
* additional materials needed

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.
* additional materials needed

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.

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.

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.

Using tunnel greenhouse construction and utilizing local materials to covered with mesh to achieve a permanent structure that will enhance the production of vegetables, quinoa and kiwicha and improve the quantity, 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.

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.

There are 50 students in this small, rural school that provides primary education. These children come from low-income families and a community of extreme poverty. The community lives on the income from their crops – coffee, corn, beans and vegetables. Unfortunately, the school is not served by the Central government and the children are unable to have access to technology making it impossible for them to compete scholastically and apply for high school or higher education. This request would provide funds for two computers, two printers, multimedia equipment and furnishings for the in-school Technology Room.

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.`

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This community has not been educated on the importance of cleanliness and care for their environment and the importance a clean environment has on their overall health and well-being of the population. It is common for waste to be found in roads and on streets creating an unpleasant and harmful situation. Since there are no signs or receptacles for them to use to deposit their wrappers, papers, shells, bags from the treats they buy, etc., they drop them on the ground. Through workshops, this recycle project will educate the community on the importance of maintaining balance between nature and society, natural resources and healthy spaces that allow for the development and improving the quality of life today and in the future. Funds will allow them to purchase the recycle receptacles, materials needed for signage, environmental pollution workshops and trash pickup and sorting campaign. This project will benefit the whole community including the primary and secondary school students.

This community has not been educated on the importance of cleanliness and care for their environment and the importance a clean environment has on their overall health and well-being of the population. It is common for waste to be found in roads and on streets creating an unpleasant and harmful situation. Since there are no signs or receptacles for them to use to deposit their wrappers, papers, shells, bags from the treats they buy, etc., they drop them on the ground. Through workshops, this recycle project will educate the community on the importance of maintaining balance between nature and society, natural resources and healthy spaces that allow for the development and improving the quality of life today and in the future. Funds will allow them to purchase the recycle receptacles, materials needed for signage, environmental pollution workshops and trash pickup and sorting campaign. This project will benefit the whole community including the primary and secondary school students.

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.
* additional materials needed

This community center is centrally located and will directly benefit 1,400 people. This community center will be used for conducting training, holding meetings and become a space where women can meet permanently to discuss their problems and make plans for the future. The building will also provide temporary shelter to abused women and children.
The funds will cover not only building material costs, such as the cement, plaster, door and windows, but also tables and chairs and one bed and bedding. Labor to be provided by members of the community.

In addition to working in their coffee farms and duties such as cooking, washing clothes, home care, childcare these women also spend evenings and Sundays learning and utilizing a new craft such as weaving, crochet and embroidery. The objective is to empower the women to improve the techniques and quality of the finished product for sales at the markets and to be able to contribute to the income of their family. The funds will provide training, seed capital for yarn, wool and fabric, participation on local fairs and a workshop on self-esteem and leadership.

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, 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.

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.

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.

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 choices verses the damage being done by processed foods. The goal is to start the movement to change lives now and in 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.

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.

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.

Please call Marilyn @ (360) 909-8671 if you would like more information about this grant request. Description to be added soon.

Please call Marilyn @ (360) 909-8671 if you would like more information about this grant request. Description to be added soon.