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Evolution of Change - Clean Water Project
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Clean Water Project in Uganda
Our clean water project in Uganda has given rise to a whole new perspective, one that needs to be shared. The project was inspired from our work with the Namanyoni Cooperative. It is a study in what moves Thanksgiving Coffee Company to be better at what we do, and it is about an evolving theory of change.
The original Interfaith co-operative of Ugandan coffee farmers gathered together with a mission to build harmonious relationships and economic development in a complicated country. When Thanksgiving Coffee became involved, our premise was to improve the standard of living. We began by paying the farmers a higher price for their coffee. We empowered the farmers to improve the quality of their coffees, their farming practices, and supported them to certify their green coffee and this commanded higher prices for their product.
As the relationship grew we went through many twists and turns and in 2020 it became clear that paying a higher price for the green coffee was not enough. What we learned is that the farmers spend up to 60% of their income on healthcare costs. It became clear that the real need is to improve the health of the farmers, and for Uganda this meant clean, safe water.
Not having access to safe water is the number 2 killer of children under five worldwide and over 20 Million people in Uganda are without safe water. This takes a huge toll on families and especially the water barrers – the women who need to hunt and source out available water.
Uganda has 20 Million people without safe water.
We set a new goal to provide clean water for every family of the Namanyoni Coop. To accomplish this we partnered with Spouts of Water who creates sustainable clean water filters out of local materials and hires local employees.
These simple filters allow the farmers and their families to drink and cook water safely without boiling it first.
Delivery of the Clean Water Filters to Coop
Local Ugandan Man Creating the Water Filters
The Benefits of the Clean Water Filters
- 99.9% Reduction of water-born illnesses, such as typhoid, cholera, dysentery, and diarrhea
- Increase in life expectancy
- Decrease in infant mortality
- Lower energy costs due to eliminating the need to boil water for sanitation
- Reduction of medical, pharmacy, and burial costs
- Increase disposable income by up to 60%
- Women and girls spend less time hunting for, gathering, carrying, and transporting wood back to their homes (which is also a financial benefit)
- Raised family and community Happiness quotient
One member checking out her new clean water filter
Coop members viewing the water filters for the first time
In 2021 we were able to meet our goal through the rebates generated by the sale of each Delicious Peace coffee package.
Our work with the Namanyoni Cooperative in Uganda is helping us develop a replicable model that we can share. When the health of our farmers and impoverished peoples of the world improves, we see a ripple effect and the benefits reach far and wide.
By working together, we support the health and well-being of each farming family with a simple investment of a clean water filter.
One member with her new clean water filter
Coop member with water filters
Learn More About the Project:
Delicious Peace Moves Forward: Development Origins
A Trip to Africa: Intro - I'm going to Africa
Delicious Peace Coffee : A New Story
Clean Water For All : Helping Uganda
Impact Report: Giving Back
Uganda: Geography Now (Fun one to share with kids)
Track our coffee farmers and how we make some of the worlds most Amazing Coffees
Recommended Reading
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![B Corp 2023: Beyond Certification]()
Beyond Certification
We get it. The world has a lot of issues. But there is hope and there are folks like us who are using our business as a force for good working to make the world a better place. They are called B Corps. It is a new way to do business. We are taking all our stakeholders in account – our team, our community, and our planet as well as our customers. Here is how we are helping make a better future for us all…
We know we can supply you with a great cup of coffee, but it's what's behind our cup that makes a real difference. We go beyond with our mission to enhance the well-being of all we touch-from coffee grower to coffee drinker. We helped inspire the fair trade model in specialty coffee in the early 90s but now we are taking that step further. In Uganda, instead of just paying a higher price, we found out that our farmers largest expense was medical care due to contaminated water. We found locally sourced water filters and have now supplied them to 342 family farmers and have dropped their medical expenses by 60%! That's why our motto is, “Not Just A Cup, But A Just Cup!”
We go beyond with our mission to enhance the well-being of all we touch – from coffee grower to coffee drinker.
Our influence stretches from our home community in Mendocino to the Global community at large where we work to protect the land, the people, and the animals.
- We understand it is time to break down our old systems and relearn how to integrate our business into a whole living system of regeneration for our planet.
- We recognize that pollinators are essential to our ecosystem and created a multi-pronged approach to protect pollinators, and, by extension, our food sources, and humanity’s survival.
- We support first nations wisdom keepers through Indigenous storytelling and partner with the Mendocino Film Festival to bring these stories to our community.
- We support protection of our Local Jackson State Demonstration Forest to Fight Climate Change, Restore Degraded Ecosystems, Promote Spiritual & Mental Health, and Support Sustainable Economies through the Trail Stewards.
For 5 decades Thanksgiving Coffee Company has produced some of the worlds best coffee, all based on mutual respect of the Farmers, the Earth and all the life it sustains. Coffee is and always will be our medium for social, economic and environmental justice.
Simply put being a B Corp is exactly where we want to be, with the kind of company we want to keep, a business that goes beyond for the good of the whole. Here are a few of our local B Corps helping to make a difference: Bonterra Organic Estates, North Coast Brewing Company, Heather Paulsen Consulting
Let’s make every cup of coffee go beyond simple enjoyment, and make it a force for good.
B Corp 2023: Beyond Certification
read more
Beyond Certification
We get it. The world has a lot of issues. But there is hope and there are folks like us who are using our business as a force for good working to make the world a better place. They are called B Corps. It is a new way to do business. We are taking all our stakeholders in account – our team, our community, and our planet as well as our customers. Here is how we are helping make a better future for us all…
We know we can supply you with a great cup of coffee, but it's what's behind our cup that makes a real difference. We go beyond with our mission to enhance the well-being of all we touch-from coffee grower to coffee drinker. We helped inspire the fair trade model in specialty coffee in the early 90s but now we are taking that step further. In Uganda, instead of just paying a higher price, we found out that our farmers largest expense was medical care due to contaminated water. We found locally sourced water filters and have now supplied them to 342 family farmers and have dropped their medical expenses by 60%! That's why our motto is, “Not Just A Cup, But A Just Cup!”
We go beyond with our mission to enhance the well-being of all we touch – from coffee grower to coffee drinker.
Our influence stretches from our home community in Mendocino to the Global community at large where we work to protect the land, the people, and the animals.
- We understand it is time to break down our old systems and relearn how to integrate our business into a whole living system of regeneration for our planet.
- We recognize that pollinators are essential to our ecosystem and created a multi-pronged approach to protect pollinators, and, by extension, our food sources, and humanity’s survival.
- We support first nations wisdom keepers through Indigenous storytelling and partner with the Mendocino Film Festival to bring these stories to our community.
- We support protection of our Local Jackson State Demonstration Forest to Fight Climate Change, Restore Degraded Ecosystems, Promote Spiritual & Mental Health, and Support Sustainable Economies through the Trail Stewards.
For 5 decades Thanksgiving Coffee Company has produced some of the worlds best coffee, all based on mutual respect of the Farmers, the Earth and all the life it sustains. Coffee is and always will be our medium for social, economic and environmental justice.
Simply put being a B Corp is exactly where we want to be, with the kind of company we want to keep, a business that goes beyond for the good of the whole. Here are a few of our local B Corps helping to make a difference: Bonterra Organic Estates, North Coast Brewing Company, Heather Paulsen Consulting
Let’s make every cup of coffee go beyond simple enjoyment, and make it a force for good.
B Corp 2023: Beyond Certification
read more
We Raised The Community Happiness Quotient
Clean water is scarce in Uganda’s coffee-growing regions and 20 million Ugandans are without safe clean water.
This is our video about how we learned to better restore dignity and justice to our coffee growers, and their communities.
Read about the project here: Evolution of Change
Clean Water Project
Video
By working together, we can support the health and well-being of each farmer and their families with a simple investment in a clean water filter.
When you buy Delicious Peace Coffee, you support health and happiness for future generations.
This is a call to action for all coffee companies to lift up the dignity of farmers and support health and happiness for future generations.