Activity Report 2013

Project 1Riabai Borehole

Ndumberi FCS certification

Goal/Objective Expected Output Target

Improved access to potable water to dispensary patients and staff

Improvement of sanitation and hygiene for patients and health facility staff

Women/Community

Improved access to potable water to dispensary patients and staff

Improvement of sanitation and hygiene for patients and health facility staff

Women/ Children/ Communit

Closer location of potable water source

Time saving for women and children, who normally need to walk long distances to collect water.

Women/ Children/ Community

Time savings can be translated into increased production, higher school attendance and more leisure time.

The Objectives of the projects that were well met are like below;

Ndumberi Coffee Farmers Co-operative Society was formed in 1961 and registered on 30 September, 1962 with an initial membership of 430 members.

Currently, the society has three wet mills serving over 2,600 coffee farmers. Ndumberi FCS is comprised of three factories - Ndumberi, Riabai and Ngaita. The society’s vision is to produce the best quality coffee using sustainable, good agricultural and processing practices that will lead to higher production and improved livelihood for all its members.

In line with sustainable and responsible farming principles the factory has adopted certification and advocates for good agricultural practices among its farmers. The Society is certified under the Fair-trade, and Rainforest standards.

The community within Riabai catchment experienced water shortage since time in memorial. Riabai dispensary, the only medical center in the area also faced water supply shortages, putting lives at risk and breeding of possible infections. In partnership with CMS, Tchibo provided funds to drill a borehole, a pump, a reservoir tank and a distribution Kiosk. The borehole has capacity to provide a projected water demand of 40m3/ day.

This was aimed at:

• Improving access to clean portable water for the local community hence reducing incidences of water borne diseases

• Improving water accessibility to dispensary patients and staff, hence an improvement of sanitation.

• Closer location of water source will result in time saving for women and children, who otherwise would need to walk long distances to collect water. Time saved can be translated into increased production, higher school attendance and more leisure time.

The project was implemented in three phases:

Stage 1: CMS commissioned a hydrogeological survey with an aim to assess groundwater potential of the project area drilling a borehole to provide a projected water demand of 40m3/ day. Stage 2: Based on the results of the survey, which found the project feasible, the drilling was commissioned. The project management team (PMT obtained a drilling authorization from relevant government ministries and agencies including the Ministry of Water and Water Regulatory and Management Authority (WRMA).

Stage 3: Once all the permits were obtained, the contractors were engaged with the help of experts from the government. Water was found to contain excess nitrates and fluorides but was then treated ensuring safe consumption.

With the project completed, the new water borehole will be managed and maintained (including paying electricity bill) by Ndumberi FCS, whereas the FCS Management board will be in charge of day to day running of the borehole.

“The sight of the water flowing from the taps is so fulfilling; water is life. The dispensary now is clean because there is enough supply of water. The smiles the women put when fetching water signifies a new hope for the future.” Ndumberi FCS Chairman

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Project 2Ting’ang’a Model Primary School

With an initial membership of 430 members in 1961, Ndumberi Coffee Farmers Co-operative Society was formed and registered later on 30 September,

1962. Currently, the society has three wet mills (Ndumberi, Riabai and Ngaita) serving over 2,600 coffee farmers. The society’s vision is to produce the best quality coffee using sustainable, good agricultural and processing practices that will lead to higher production and improved livelihood for all its members.

Ting’ang’a model primary school is a mixed day school located at the heart of Ting’ang’a Division in Kiambu County within the catchment area of Ngaita factory, which is one of the affiliate factories of Ndumberi FCS.

Founded in 1992 as a small day care center for children, Ting’ang’a model primary has rapidly grown in leaps and bounds since then to a full-fledged primary public school registered with the Ministry of Education. Today, the school has a population of 507 pupils - 253 boys and 254 girls. It also has an Early Children Education Centre (ECD) with a population of 90 pupils. Before the Tchibo and CMS Partnership intervention, the school faced several challenges among them:

• Congestion in classrooms• Lack of electricity • Poor sanitation due to water inadequacy

Amidst the various challenges it faces, the school registers a sterling performance during national examinations. It has attained Second position in the Municipality Division and First position in Ting’ang’a division- Public School Category.

In partnership with CMS, Tchibo provided USD 15,903 towards alleviating the school’s challenges through the following activities:

• Construction of a new classroom• Completion and renovation of a stalled classroom• Electrification • Water harvesting within the school compound

The changes implemented courtesy of Tchibo and CMS have helped in creating a shift in perspective in the pupils’ mind. Now more than ever, they portray interest and enthusiasm towards learning due to the radical transformation of the environment they learn and play in. Further, the school has registered an increase in enrollment, a clear indication of a potential economic growing area.

The Head teacher had the following to say towards the completion of the project:

Initially our classes were very muddy because the pupils would never bring enough water to clean the classes with the water harvesting facility hygiene levels have really improved. I am hoping to raise performance standards a bit higher. That’s the only way I can show my appreciation to Tchibo for helping us.

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Ndumberi FCS certification

Gikanda Farmers’ Co-operative Society is made up of 2,473 registered members. Their main source of income is coffee farming. Being a perennial crop,

proceeds from coffee farming are limited to a season within the year. as such, most of the farmers have diversified their efforts towards generating alternative sources of income alongside coffee farming so as to meet their daily needs. Gikanda coffee farmers therefore began dairy farming to supplement their coffee income. Organic manure from the dairy farm is used to add nutrients to the coffee bushes in the farms.

However, the dairy society was experiencing challenges losses over the years since they began, mainly because they did not have proper storage facilities for their milk before it was collected. They therefore ended up selling their produce to exploitative middlemen at throwaway prices to avoid their milk going sour. Coffee productivity in terms of quality and quantity was also being affected as the supplement organic manure applied on the coffee bushes was spread thinner; in-organic fertilizers are expensive and most farmers are not able to afford.

With the milk collection quantities dwindling, milk processors no longer found it commercially viable to collect from the dairy society as frequently. In partnership with CMS, TCHIBO provided the funds to construct and equip a milk collection and cooling plant in an effort to alleviate some of the challenges that the farmers were experiencing:

• Inappropriate storage of milk leading to wastage • Reduced milk productivity • Reduced farmer income• Dairy farmers turning away from keeping livestock• Lack of organic fertilizer for use on coffee farms

The entire cost of the proposed project is $30,120 and life has not been the same for Gikanda farmers’ co-operative society.

With the new milk cooling tank and collecting centre, the farmers have now started delivering in the evening and the milk is cooled to await the morning collections by the commercial milk processors who have renewed their interest in continuing to trade with the farmers. Other commercial dealers have also approached Gikanda dairy to be their supplier.

More farmers are now willing to keep dairy cows and are embracing it as a supplementary source of income. In future, the dairy society plans to diversify towards value addition and process the milk that they collect. This will in turn raise the returns from the business; additional income for the farmers translates to access to better education, improved health and nutrition.

“They (Tchibo) have brought us from far and now we are not going to turn back. We expect an improvement also in coffee production since farmers will now have access to organic manure”. Gikanda farmers’ co-operative society Chairman.

Project 3 Gikanda Dairy

Goal/Objective Expected Output Target

Improve milk and coffee production for the farmers

Reduced milk wastage through proper storage Women/Community

Improved milk productivity as more coffee farmers will be encouraged to keep dairy animals

Improvement of sanitation and hygiene for patients and health facility staff

Women/ Children/ Communit

The project had the below Objectives that have been met:

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Gikanda FCS certification

Project 4 Thamaru Polytechnic

Comprising of 3 wet-mills (Karagoto, Tegu and Nganguru), Tekangu Coffee Farmers Coperative Society is located in Mathira division, Nyeri District of

Central province, just160 Km from Nairobi. At an altitude of 1700 M ASL on the fertile foothills of Mt. Kenya and slopes of the Aberdare ranges, the society’s activities take place in a rich agricultural zone that is widely reputed as the home of Kenyan coffee- with deep fertile soils rich in organic matter and high water retention capacity. With their good structure, the soils provide good drainage and aeration for the coffee trees.

This region further lies in the upper midland zone 1 (UM1) agro-ecological zone which is relatively cool with abundant and reliable rainfall. Temperatures here range between 15 C and 26 C, with highs experienced in January – February and lows in June – July through the year.

Similar to other rural settlements in the region, the youth from the catchment face unemployment. Land subdivision due to overpopulation has made farming difficult, as landowners opting to hold onto small pieces of land rather than sub dividing them into economically viable areas. In an effort to stem unemployment, Tchibo in partnership with CMS provided USD 60,723.92 towards renovating a learning institution in the catchment to a youth training center. The funds were to renovate and equip the administration block, two workshops to usable levels including erecting a fence, installation of electricity, provision of training equipment and personnel.

Thamaru Polytechnic was established in the late 70’s as an adult education centre, which later converted to a youth polytechnic. Back then, it was managed by the Ministry of Education through the Adult Education Program and later

by the Department of Vocational Training under the same Ministry. However, in the late 90’s, the country’s economic situation took a down turn and funding of institutions by the Ministry was cut short.

Thamaru youth polytechnic fell victim and operations ground to a halt, followed by extensive vandalism of the institution. Before Tchibo’s intervention, the institution was a shell of its former glory with dilapidated buildings and no training equipment. Renovation works for the two workshops had kicked off with funding from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and community contribution. The Ministry of Higher education through the department of Vocational Training, has agreed to post qualified trainers to the institution once it is renovated and equipped.

Currently, there are two vocational training courses in progress- carpentry and dressmaking. The equipment and infrastructure provided by Tchibo proved invaluable, leading to a change of name for the institution: Thamaru Technical Training Institute”.

The chairman of the Polytechnic describes the transformation as “a dream come true” Esther, a 35 year old mother who is training in dress making confesses that though her working years are long gone, she could use the knowledge alternatively for domestic purposes.

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Tekangu FCS certification

Project 5 Kiburu Girls Secondary School

The Mwirua Coffee Farmers Cooperative Society Society was started in 1960’s. Today, it has 8 factories affiliated to it, with over 10,000 members. It is within

the society’s catchment area in Karatina, Nyeri District that Kiburu Girls Secondary School is located. It was established in 2010, five years after girls’ classes had been phased out at Kiburu Boys and Girls Secondary school.

In absence of a girl’s school following the phasing out of the girls classes at the mother school, the community within Mwirua FCS felt the need to establish a girl’s day secondary school to bridge the gap left. This was driven by the fact that girls attending the school had to walk for long distances to access education, with the nearest school being more than twelve (12) km away. The long distance exposed the young girls to lucking dangers as they would go to school early before sunrise and return home hours after sunset. This led to a decrease in the number of girls accessing secondary school education, consequently increasing their chances of becoming mothers at a tender age.

These challenges led community leaders to approach the management of Kiburu Primary School with one request: establishing a girl’s day secondary school within the primary school. Their efforts bore fruit, after the first class enrolled with eighteen (18) girls to Form One. But as the new school was being established, the primary school students had to give room for the girls in an unsustainable

move to to create room for the growing number of girls. The girls were thus moved into the abandoned and neglected wooden staff quarters of the primary school.

One of the wooden shelters served as a science laboratory, which as barely equipped. It posed danger to the students and teachers as it had no capacity to handle accidents. The school also had two classrooms that were incomplete - with no window panes and cemented floors- exposing the girls to infections arising from severe cold and dust.

Tchibo provided $ 51,840 to build a twin lab and classroom. The project took place in consultation with all stakeholder sin the coffee and education sector. This has given the girls a more favorable environment to study and fair ground for completion with other schools that are better in terms of infrastructure.

Quote from the Principal; we are grateful to Tchibo and CMS. We also thank Mwirua FCS for choosing us and we feel Humbled. The girls self –esteemed has improved because we the new look they can now be proud of their school. IT has also saved me a lot as now I don’t have to send the girls to the neighboring boy’s schools for their practical sessions. It was very time wasting and the risks are also unimaginable.

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Goal/Objective Expected Output Target

Reduce gender inequality in access to education

More girls have an opportunity to access secondary education hence have a chance to improve their literacy levels and quality of life

Girls/Community

Improve health standards of the community

Improved health practices and behavior due to existence of modern washrooms. Improved safety and wellbeing of students and staff while using new classroom and science labs which are able to cope with hazards

Students/school staff/Community

Reduce early childhood marriages and pregnancies currently experienced in the community

Greater opportunity for girls to enroll in the school will discourage them from getting married early or engaging in unsafe sexual activities. The school attending girls will be empowered with reproductive health education hence will be able to avoid unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

Girls/Community

The project met the objectives below:

Mwirua FCS certification

Project 6

Mathakwaini Secondary School

Thiriku FCS is located in Tetu District of Central Province, about 4km from Nyeri-Othaya Road. The society split from the larger Tetu Farmers’ Co-

operative Society and on 28 January 2002 it was registered with only one wet mill. In line with sustainable and responsible farming principles the factory has adopted certification and advocates for good agricultural practices among its farmers. The Society is also certified under the Rainforest certification standard. Mathakwaini Secondary school is situated within the catchment of Thiriku FCS, Tetu District, Nyeri county in Central Province. The school serves coffee farming communities associated with Thiriku Farmers’ Co-operative Society. It was started in 1975 with an initial enrollment of 35 students and three teachers who sat for their first national exam in 1984.

Over the years the school has grown both in size and performance with its current enrollment standing at 444 students, 17 teachers and nine (9) support staff. The school’s performance has continuously improved, notably its Second position in the district during the last national examinations. The school has also represented Tetu District in sports, music and arts competitions at both Provincial and National levels.

Despite its impressive record, one of the infrastructural challenges the school experienced was its dilapidated dining hall. In partnership with CMS, Tchibo provided $ 52,317 to construct a kitchen and multipurpose hall that would be used:

• To Prepare and serve meals for students• As an alternative examination room.• House an alternative library and study room.• As meeting hall for parents/students/teachers

meeting.• Used for recreational purposes e.g. Music festivals• Used for educational shows based on national

examination literature set books• Used by the local coffee farming community for

functions during school holidays (this may include educational seminars, weddings and meetings)

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The Project met the below objectives:

Goal/Objective Expected Output Target

Increased school attendance

Improved motivation for students to attend school since they won’t have food inconveniences

Community

Improved school performance

Reduced meal breaks creating more time for studying. Community

Thiriku FCS certification

Project 7 Thenge-ini Primary School

Thenge-ini Primary school is located within The Gikanda FCS catchment. It is among this community that the need to have a special learning class for

the mentally disabled children was identified. Parents of such children with special needs were forced to take their children to far way schools which could cater to them. It was expensive and the children were distanced from the much needed parental care and attention.

The project comprised of rehabilitation of the infrastructure at Tenge-ini Primary School. This involved renovation and equipping of a special class for the physically and mentally disabled children within the catchment area of the cooperative to serve coffee farmers who are also subsistence dairy farmers.

The project was proposed by the community to alleviate following problems:

• Unequal access to education for the children with special needs within the community

• Inappropriate learning environment that did not take into account specific needs of children with special needs

• Low morale of the teaching staff due to inadequate office space

• Low literacy levels in the community hence disadvantage of future coffee farmers when making socio-economic and political decisions

• Assist the mentally and physically challenged pupils to live an independent life and therefore fit in the day-to-day activities.

The school’s management board heeded to the community’s call and started the special learning class two years ago even without the facilities and a classroom

but some of the available teachers were taken to special training to enable them effectively handle these children. The proposed initiative is geared towards improving the teaching and the learning environment in the school.Tchibo, in partnership with CMS provided $ 21,515 towards constructing a classroom for the special children and renovating four others that had stalled due to lack of funds. The funds were also used to put up an administration block for the teachers.

The project has further seen the special needs children at the school benefit from the medical attention of qualified Occupational Therapists. The children’s caregivers and teachers have also been ted on how to handle and manage their different conditions with care.

Food security has been a major issue to many families in Kenya Rural settings and families with Thengeini Primary school are not exceptional. It was also established that the special needs’ children suffered from cases of malnutrition. The Tchibo-CMS partnership project therefore established a green house that will provide food to the special children. It has the capacity to produce food for commercial purposes, serving as an avenue to ensure income to the special children’s needs.

Mrs. Kiune, one of the teacher’s who is a caretaker for the special needs children observes: We now have a class of our own and this has helped the children to concentrate. The environment is favorable and we now have teaching aids.

The head teacher Mr. Thagana also observes that the teachers have the much-deserved working space and the teachers have some working space.

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Goal/Objective Expected Output Target

Improve access to education for children with special needs

More children with special needs have been able to access learning facilities due to the increased capacity of the primary school

Children with special needs/Community

Improve the overall academic performance of the school

Improved learning environment of all primary students by providing better class rooms

Women/ Children/ Community

Improved future opportunities for coffee farmers

Improved literacy levels in the community placing future coffee farmers at advantage when making informed socio-economic and political decisions.

Community

The Project met the following objectives as established:

Gikanda FCS certification