2019 – 2020 Grants

The project is aimed at improving the quality of coffee during the washing process and minimizing the work that members do. There are communities where water must be hauled from long distances or collected during the rainy season. The construction of the wet mill processing infrastructure consisting of cement fermentation tanks and solar drying tents. This will help improve the coffee processing every step of the coffee harvest.
These improvements will also improve the quality of the coffee and help them maintain their position in the specialty coffee market.

This grant will benefit 15 women coffee producers.

The cost for this grant will be shared with
ASOBAGRI.

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 span 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 as well as the weather. The chicken structures will improve the breeding of healthy chickens and to provide a continuous food source for the women and families.

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

The goal of this grant is to provide training in the production of organic supplies for the prevention, control and management of pests and diseases and to improve the organic certified coffee production yields through renovation and replanting of coffee plantations. The new plants will provide more pest-resistant plantations and decrease the risk of rust and other diseases in coffee farms. They will use the organic supplies made in biofactors in communities and strengthen the operation and production capacities of biofactors by increasing supplies.

It is estimated that there are 20 participants, who would benefit directly from the process of technical assistance, training and obtaining supplies and seedlings. The families of the participants would also benefit, reaching up to 100 indirect beneficiaries, not counting the impact on the community.

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.

This grant is to purchase a 5-pound coffee roaster. The purpose is to work with women to help them realize the of value of roasting their coffee and to be able to sell it in communities throughout Guatemala. Currently they have a 2-pound coffee roaster, but it is old and breaks down a lot. Goal is to generates income for women coffee producers.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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 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.

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.