On Tuesday 15th July 2008, we were previleged to meet Mr. Thomas M O'Hara President of the International Marketing Systems LTD from the USA who was on a business visit to our estate. His organisation is looking for Fair Trade black tea from producers within Asia (India) and Africa (Malawi or Kenya). He was accompanied by head of the COMPASS II, a USAID funded NGO.
He met with members of the Satemwa Fair Trade Joint Body and members of the Small Holder Tea producers who sell their leaf to Satemwa Factory.
He then went to the factory where he was shown samples of Satemwa black teas as well as white and othe special teas.
''The visit has raised our hopes as we are quite optimistic of another Fair trade potential market for our tea from where workers will benefit by way of the Premium'', lamented one Joint body member.
The visitors however, emphasised to both the JB and the Small scale farmers about the need to enhance QUALITY throughout the process chain so as to remain competitive.
For more info. visit: www.satemwa.com
3 Jun 2008
DIFFERENCES OVER BOREHOLE UPKEEP
A committee put in place to oversee the upkeep of the Fairtrade funded borehole sparked controversy when they demanded some MK50 per household every month to be used for buying spare parts for the borehole in case of break downs.
The committee chairperson was told off by angry workers who were coming from work -tired.
''Don't you know that we pluck quality tea which the company sells on the FT market in order for us to enjoy such services as water? Who are you to demand money? Unfortunately this man is a nonworker from the nearby Magara Trading Centre. Meanwhile, the committee has been suspended for a while to try and give a breather while we reconsider the strategy.
The committee chairperson was told off by angry workers who were coming from work -tired.
''Don't you know that we pluck quality tea which the company sells on the FT market in order for us to enjoy such services as water? Who are you to demand money? Unfortunately this man is a nonworker from the nearby Magara Trading Centre. Meanwhile, the committee has been suspended for a while to try and give a breather while we reconsider the strategy.
SATEMWA JOINT BODY SETS A STRATEGY TO ALLEVIATE HUNGER USING FAIRTRADE PREMIUM
As it very apparent that there is going to be a maize shortage, the JB has been asked by workers to buy maize and keep in readiness for the lean period. Using part of the FT Premium a budget has been drawn to buy at least 2000 x 50kg bags of maize to be sold to workers and members of the community at cost as it might be difficult to buy at the market price come say December.
The idea has been supported by many.
'We shall try to maintain quality so that we maintain the market, this is very good said one lady tea plucker Miss Kamwezi of our Satemwa division'.
To Satemwa management, this means that they will be faced with a challange of having to create jobs come the stapple food lean period as many people will be coming to seek employment.
The idea has been supported by many.
'We shall try to maintain quality so that we maintain the market, this is very good said one lady tea plucker Miss Kamwezi of our Satemwa division'.
To Satemwa management, this means that they will be faced with a challange of having to create jobs come the stapple food lean period as many people will be coming to seek employment.
27 May 2008
SATEMWA JOINT BODY VISITS MASFA IN MCHINJI
It was all smiles when the Satemwa JB members embarked a chartered minibus enroute to Mchinji for a visit.
The purpose of the visit was to appreciate how their friends have used Fair trade premium money. This was in preparation for big projects they intend to embark on after receiving quite a substatial amount of money from the Finlays.
Mr Kaelama leader of delegation breifed us that they had a nice time out there. They were taken to projects that have been constructed using FT money and having learnt one or two things they intend to hold some consultation meetings with workers and the community in order to identify projects in addition to outstanding boreholes.
Group Village Headman Maonga who was among them was all smiles and could not help but to thank FLO and and buyers who have the welfare of the common man at heart. We are hopeful that Buyers will continue buying Tea from Satemwa so we can continue enjoying the fruits like we are doing.
The purpose of the visit was to appreciate how their friends have used Fair trade premium money. This was in preparation for big projects they intend to embark on after receiving quite a substatial amount of money from the Finlays.
Mr Kaelama leader of delegation breifed us that they had a nice time out there. They were taken to projects that have been constructed using FT money and having learnt one or two things they intend to hold some consultation meetings with workers and the community in order to identify projects in addition to outstanding boreholes.
Group Village Headman Maonga who was among them was all smiles and could not help but to thank FLO and and buyers who have the welfare of the common man at heart. We are hopeful that Buyers will continue buying Tea from Satemwa so we can continue enjoying the fruits like we are doing.
10 Jan 2008
BOREHOLE DRILLERS AT WORK
One big project the SATEMWA JOINT BODY embarked on was the drilling of a Bore hole at a point near the nearest village and our Magara compound.
From the word ‘go’ it was all excitement, surprises, happiness and sighs of relief especially from people of Magara Trading centre.
School children from our Satemwa Primary School could not help coming to see for themselves what mother luck had brought them. (Those in blue dresses and shirts)
Using FT Premium, we contracted bore drillers from town, those well experienced to drill a bore hole for us.
It was done at the cost of MK700, 000.00 ($5,000.00)
When it was completed, and the civil works done, people from the nearest houses could not help coming to have a feel of clean, fresh water from a bore hole – indeed a night mare.
As seen from the picture below, within a short period of time there was a queue building up of men and women wanting to draw some water.
Asked what difference the borehole will make in every day life, one lady from Magara Mrs. Monosile (in the photo) said ‘issues of diarrhoea, cholera and other health risks will be minimised as we will now no longer be taking water from unprotected wells as was the case in the past. However we hope other areas will be reached out as well so that the communities that surround Satemwa benefit from this facility’ she said.
Being the first project to be done using Fair Trade initiatives, there is quite a high expectation from people of other Divisions, and the surrounding villages that they would eventually also benefit from the same.
Potable water is a major problem in this part of the district such that the provision of bore hole water will indeed change people’s lives. Women will not have to travel longer distances in search of water.
One villager wanted to know whether this agreement is longer lasting so that other areas are reached out, same feelings coming out.
One JB member explained that for as long as FT standards are maintained, quality tea produced the market would be there.
‘Let us just hope buyers will keep on buying Satemwa Tea through Fair Trade, in order for us to get the premium.’ He said
http://www.satemwa.com/ - for more information
A QUEUE TO DRAW WATER FROM A FAIR TRADE - PREMIUM SUNK BOREHOLE
From the word ‘go’ it was all excitement, surprises, happiness and sighs of relief especially from people of Magara Trading centre.
School children from our Satemwa Primary School could not help coming to see for themselves what mother luck had brought them. (Those in blue dresses and shirts)
Using FT Premium, we contracted bore drillers from town, those well experienced to drill a bore hole for us.
It was done at the cost of MK700, 000.00 ($5,000.00)
When it was completed, and the civil works done, people from the nearest houses could not help coming to have a feel of clean, fresh water from a bore hole – indeed a night mare.
As seen from the picture below, within a short period of time there was a queue building up of men and women wanting to draw some water.
Asked what difference the borehole will make in every day life, one lady from Magara Mrs. Monosile (in the photo) said ‘issues of diarrhoea, cholera and other health risks will be minimised as we will now no longer be taking water from unprotected wells as was the case in the past. However we hope other areas will be reached out as well so that the communities that surround Satemwa benefit from this facility’ she said.
Being the first project to be done using Fair Trade initiatives, there is quite a high expectation from people of other Divisions, and the surrounding villages that they would eventually also benefit from the same.
Potable water is a major problem in this part of the district such that the provision of bore hole water will indeed change people’s lives. Women will not have to travel longer distances in search of water.
One villager wanted to know whether this agreement is longer lasting so that other areas are reached out, same feelings coming out.
One JB member explained that for as long as FT standards are maintained, quality tea produced the market would be there.
‘Let us just hope buyers will keep on buying Satemwa Tea through Fair Trade, in order for us to get the premium.’ He said
http://www.satemwa.com/ - for more information
A QUEUE TO DRAW WATER FROM A FAIR TRADE - PREMIUM SUNK BOREHOLE
JOINT BODY MEETING
On 14th November Mr. Simon Banda from Zambia came to pay us a visit where among other things covered he had an audience with members of the Satemwa Joint Body.
JB members had a chance to express their expectations, concerns and what they feel FLO and the Producer should do in order to ensure the trade partnership is sustained.
On the other Simon also assured the JB members that FLO will try to assist where possible so that there is a smooth running of the requirements in order for the producer to sustain the certification.
He also had a chance of meeting with Smallholder Tea growers who are selling their tea to Satemwa. These small tea growers are also eager to be certified fair trade and Satemwa Estate is trying to assist them with any information they may require.
www.satemwa.com - for more information
SMALL HOLDER TEA GROWERS EXECUTIVE MEMBERS WITH SIMON BANDA
SATEMWA JOINT BODY MEMBERS PICTURED WITH SIMON BANDA FLO LIASON OFFICER SOUTHERN AFRICA) – (Back row second from left)
JB members had a chance to express their expectations, concerns and what they feel FLO and the Producer should do in order to ensure the trade partnership is sustained.
On the other Simon also assured the JB members that FLO will try to assist where possible so that there is a smooth running of the requirements in order for the producer to sustain the certification.
He also had a chance of meeting with Smallholder Tea growers who are selling their tea to Satemwa. These small tea growers are also eager to be certified fair trade and Satemwa Estate is trying to assist them with any information they may require.
www.satemwa.com - for more information
SMALL HOLDER TEA GROWERS EXECUTIVE MEMBERS WITH SIMON BANDA
SATEMWA JOINT BODY MEMBERS PICTURED WITH SIMON BANDA FLO LIASON OFFICER SOUTHERN AFRICA) – (Back row second from left)
SCHOOL FEES BURSARIES FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS
When it became known that there would be a Fair Trade certification process, and that the benefits of it would come by way of a premium, Joint Body members were required to draw up a Work Plan detailing how the premium would be spent.
Among other project lined up was a suggestion to pay School fees for needy students.
The background to this decision is that there are students who are struggling to raise school fees because of the following possible reasons:
∑ They have lost parents to HIV/AIDS
∑ Parents are poor such that they can not raise money to meet Secondary school education requirements.
∑ Some families have too many children who are at secondary school such that they choose to support some and not all.
∑ More importantly there are students who are very intelligent and we feel there is need to support and encourage them to do even better as they are tomorrow’s possible leaders.
The primary pool for this project is Satemwa Full Primary School, a school that gets infrastructural support from the company through its Corporate Social Responsibility programme.
Then we would go school, to workers, and even the community through Village Development Committees to do a fact finding exercise to establish eligible beneficiaries.
On whether this would encourage pupils to stay in school, the Headmaster of Satemwa School said, ‘In fact this would motivate pupils to even work harder knowing they would likely be supported financially.
It is also expected that this programme would bring up a sense of ownership among workers. This would in turn see an improvement in quality of our product, the preservation of the environment e.t.c.
www.satemwa.com - for more information
Among other project lined up was a suggestion to pay School fees for needy students.
The background to this decision is that there are students who are struggling to raise school fees because of the following possible reasons:
∑ They have lost parents to HIV/AIDS
∑ Parents are poor such that they can not raise money to meet Secondary school education requirements.
∑ Some families have too many children who are at secondary school such that they choose to support some and not all.
∑ More importantly there are students who are very intelligent and we feel there is need to support and encourage them to do even better as they are tomorrow’s possible leaders.
The primary pool for this project is Satemwa Full Primary School, a school that gets infrastructural support from the company through its Corporate Social Responsibility programme.
Then we would go school, to workers, and even the community through Village Development Committees to do a fact finding exercise to establish eligible beneficiaries.
On whether this would encourage pupils to stay in school, the Headmaster of Satemwa School said, ‘In fact this would motivate pupils to even work harder knowing they would likely be supported financially.
It is also expected that this programme would bring up a sense of ownership among workers. This would in turn see an improvement in quality of our product, the preservation of the environment e.t.c.
www.satemwa.com - for more information
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