08-09 Annual Report WELCOME
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
08-09 Annual Report WELCOME Dear friends, As the global financial crisis has ravaged our economy, communities to develop their own projects and to our businesses and our communities in the developed refine their efforts as they learn what works best for world, we now have a deeper appreciation of the perils of them. Rather than use a “one size fits all” approach, narrowly-focused economic dependence. Coffee Kids takes the time to customize its efforts and listens deeply to ensure our efforts result in a successful The collapse of our financial infrastructure, which seemed outcome that will be embraced by the community long unshakeable, has created a desire for more individual after we are gone. economic independence. It has also highlighted the importance of our interdependence as a global community. As we see the This year Coffee Kids learned its own lesson about first signs of recovery, we must remember these lessons long economic dependence. We rely heavily on donations after the recession is past. and grants from the coffee trade to fund our projects, and every year the support of the industry has grown Now that these issues have hit us at home, it seems a and allowed us to expand the scope of our work. This good time to reflect on the mission of Coffee Kids, and the past year, however, saw many of our long time coffee reason it was founded over 20 years ago. For generations, industry supporters having to make choices between coffee-farming families have been trapped in a cycle of meeting their commitment to Coffee Kids or meeting grinding poverty, primarily due to their almost complete payroll. As a result, our income and thus our ability to economic dependence on coffee. Until the stranglehold provide grants to partners have been severely impacted. of economic dependence on coffee is broken, these communities are destined to continually ride the economic As our economy begins to recover, we hope that we roller coaster of the commodities market. can count on you to renew and hopefully increase your support of our mission at this critical time. With a 20- Our work with 15 in-country partners, who manage 24 year track record of success in improving the quality of projects in over 200 communities in Latin America has life in coffee-farming communities, you can be sure that shown us that this cycle of economic dependence CAN your donation will directly impact the lives of the people be broken. Time after time we see communities of coffee- with whom we work. farming families who were living in poverty become more financially secure with better training, education, In this annual report, we are proud to share with you more access to health care, and better food security. Our our accomplishments for the past year. We hope that our approach works, and with your help we can increase our success, and the new found understanding that we all efforts to work with even more communities that are in now have about the perils of economic dependence, will need. inspire you to help us in the coming year. Just as every coffee community is unique; each project On behalf of the Board of Directors, the staff of Coffee we support is unique, tailored to the specific needs of the Kids and the communities we serve, we thank you for communities we serve. The Coffee Kids approach allows your help in the past and we look forward to working with you in the future. Carolyn Fairman, Rob Stephen, Executive Director Board President 2 1 2008 Coffee Kids 2 2009 Program Partners 3 4 Mexico 8 5 7 6 Guatemala 9 Nicaragua 10 11 Costa Rica Coffee Kids supports grassroots programs that create long-lasting, sustainable change. Our work focuses on four core areas: education and training, health awareness, economic diversity and microcredit, and food security. Local partner organizations develop and implement these diverse projects that improve the quality of life in coffee- farming communities. The families they support can continue working in coffee without living in poverty. Mexico 1 AUGE: Microcredit & Food Security 2 CAMPO: Regional Training Center 3 FomCafé: Microcredit & Food Security 4 ICSUR: Traditional Medicine and Environmental Education Guatemala 5 ACMUV: Microcredit 6 ADESPA: Adult Literacy, Community Bakery and Artisan Production 7 APROS: Reproductive Health Care and Support for Widows 8 STIAP: Permaculture and Organic Agriculture Nicaragua 9 SOPPEXCCA: Environmental and Peru Leadership Education 12 10 CECOCAFEN: Microcredit and Scholarships Costa Rica 11 FHC: Scholarships Peru 12 COCLA: Health Awareness 3 2008 Program 2009 Highlights Oaxaca, Mexico - Fostering Community Initiatives in Coffee Regions (FomCafé) promotes economic diversification and microcredit in Oaxaca’s southern coffee-growing region and encourages a healthier diet focused on organic foods. FomCafé organized seven microcredit and savings groups and helped participants pool their resources to create small businesses. • Seven new microcredit and saving groups were Veracruz, Mexico - Self-Managed Development (AUGE) established for a total of eight groups with 64 participants continued their microcredit and savings project and added a food sovereignty component to ensure a healthy supply of fresh, • All eight groups received financial planning lessons locally grown food. Families received training in nutrition, fam- supervised by FomCafé staff ily gardens and herbal medicines. Representatives from AUGE • Eight groups distributed $5,057 in low-interest loans to also traveled to Chajul, Guatemala, to share information on members their unique microcredit methodology with Coffee Kids’ partner ACMUV (see page 5). • 2,817 participants • 17 food sovereignty workshops in seven communities • Radio broadcasts reach an audience of 300,000 Oaxaca, Mexico - The Center of Support for the Popular Movement of Oaxaca (CAMPO) works with indigenous communities in Oaxaca’s mountainous coffee- Chiapas, Mexico - Research and Training of Southeastern growing regions. CAMPO Mexico (ICSUR) celebrated completion works with families in northern Chiapas to of a training center that improve food security and promote economic independence. functions as a central training site for indigenous farmers Their chicken project has given families a healthy source of from throughout the area. New demonstration projects in locally produced meat and eggs; they sell surplus for supplemental bamboo production and rainwater catchment systems were income. The traditional medicine project provided training added to the 23 projects already on site. to participating families in remote areas to produce effective, low-cost alternatives to expensive pharmaceuticals. • Training center inaugurated November 27, 2008 • 177 people from four villages learned about chicken production • Six women trained by CAMPO won 1st prize for organic agriculture in a regional exchange • Participating families saved a monthly average of $35 through the chicken project • Seven workshops conducted for 125 people • 172 people from five indigenous communities participate • 36 demonstration sessions introduced 588 people to in Traditional Medicine Project sustainable techniques • Three community herb gardens were built • Families saved an average of $40 on doctor visits and medicines. 4 Chajul, Guatemala - The Chajul- ense Association of Women United for Life (ACMUV) was created to give women additional economic opportunities, and improve organizational skills and self-esteem. During the first year of ACMUV’s microcredit project, women participated in an exchange and learned about financial management and microcredit from Coffee Kids’ partner AUGE (see page 4). The project serves women in the communities of Chajul, Pulay and Tzotzil. • The women of ACMUV obtained legal status and registry for their organization Lake Atitlán, Guatemala - The Association of Health Pro- • A monthly average of $438 generated from the micro- moters of San Pedro (APROS) trains local health promoters to credit program covered operational expenses use medicinal plants, the importance of a nutritious diet, and pre- and post-natal care. These promoters then share these • Participants increased from 45 to 80 members lessons with women in their communities. APROS’ widows project provided medical check-ups, nutritious food supplies • $10,000 was designated as seed capital for four and emotional support for this often-overlooked population. microcredit groups • 75 pregnant women from five communities learned about pre- and post-natal care Paraxaj, Guatemala - The Association for Sustainable • Nutrition workshops benefited 300 children Development of Paraxaj (AD- ESPA) consistently adapts their • 75 widows received check-ups, nutritious food supplies, projects to meet new needs in and emotional support the communities around Paraxaj. Adult literacy classes have been Quetzaltenango, Guatemala - The Union of Independent parlayed into a community bakery Workers of Alianza Property (STIAP) in the remote community of project that provides additional Nueva Alianza implemented a peramaculture gardening project income for families and funds the to diversify local diets, improve the quality of available produce adult literacy program. ADESPA’s and ensure food security. STIAP set up demonstration projects handicrafts project brought in and trained community members in the basics of organic agricul- local artisans to train women in ture, worm composting and soil management. the elaboration of beaded belts and shoes, which they sell in regional markets. • 297 people in permaculture project • Daily bakery