The Satemwa Fair Trade Joint Body Contributes Towards The Fight Against Malaria

As hospitals struggle to cure malaria patients, the Satemwa Joint Body saw it fit to contribute by actually going down to the cause of malaria -"Mosquitoes".
Using Fair trade premium funds, the JB have bought 'mosquito nets' at the cost price of MK850.00 each and sold to all workerers, permanent and temporary at only MK100.00.
This will help protect Satemwa Estate workers from mosquito bites hence making them less likely to contract malaria. - 'What a benefit for being a Satemwa employee'

For more log on to: www.satemwa.com

Hunger Programme - Maize Distribution

This year Malawi has a shortage of Maize available for sale and through ADMARC. Many families have run out completely of Maize from last years harvest and the prices have more than doubled recently to over MK4,700 ($33 USD) per bag.

Over December and January the JB has helped workers' families by distributing over 100,000 KG of Maize at a heavily discounted rate.

Ten Boreholes finished

There have been many celebrations now 10 boreholes have been finished on Satemwa and the surrounding villages. The JB are planning to drill 4 more in 2009 so that all the surrounding communities and the workers on Satemwa have access to clean water for drinking, washing & cooking.

Dancing in Chizunja village...

Chief Maonga Opening a borehole in Chizunja village

Satemwa Joint Body goes online...

Happy New Year from Satemwa Joint Body!

The JB has managed to install an internet connection at the office. So we can now update the blog with more pictures & email our local friends and partners who are assisting with our projects.

antennae for JB internet connection

THE SATEMWA JB ENGAGES A PREMIUM FUNDS MANAGER

Having learnt a lesson out of other JB ' governance problems regarding the managing of Fair trade premium funds, the Satemwa Joint Body have engaged the services of Mr. Mike Shaw a VSO volunteer as a Funds/Project Coordinator.
Mr. Shaw is the second VSO volunteer to work on Satemwa after Trudy Nichols whose placement saw the improvement of education systems on Satemwa Primary School, the establishment of a training department and later the human resource development department.
It is our hope that this palcement will bring about improvements in issues of governance, capacity building within the JB members in respect of premium use and long term project identification.
This has coincided with the onset of the main cropping season hence giving the JB an upper hand regarding whatever premium will be realised out of this seasons tea sales
For more visit: www.satemwa.com

SATEMWA EXPECTS THE CO-OP VISITORS IN NOVEMBER

As if by coincidence and as if driven by an invisible hand, Satemwa will be hosting yet another contingent of high profile visitors from the co-op from the UK. They will be accompanied by Findlays Beverages who are one of the biggest Malawi Fair Trade Tea buyers.
Coincidentally, they will be coming at a time when our Fairtrade certificate has just been renewed after it was suspended. Their visit raises some hopes of sales opportunities.
While celebrating for the certificate workers, pupils and secondary school students and members of the community who have benefited from the Fair trade premium are preparing songs and dances with which to entartain the visitors. It is all happy momemnts.
Another good thing about this visit is that they will be able to meet Mr Pulmesuer the Borehole driller who skillfully uses his copper magic wands to devine where he can find enough water. He is currently sinking boreholes in the surrounding villages.

Employees dancing to one of the famous dances inthe area as they

prepare for the Co-op visitors

For more info, visit: http://www.satemwa.com/

SATEMWA FAIR TRADE CERTIFICATE SUSPENSION IS LIFTED -CERTIFIED TILL 2011

The Satemwa Fair trade certificate that was suspended due to nonconformities that came out as a result of the March 2008 audit has finally been lifted and a Certificate issued. One interesting thing is that the certificate will be valid until 2011.
We have learnt some lessons out of the exercise we undertook to regain the uncertain situation we were in.
1. To be certified one needs to do more than a normal producer would.
2. To be fair trade certified requires total commitment and sacrifice.
3. There is need to take a mainstream approach so that the FT standard becomes part of business processes.
At the end of the day we are all smiles ofcourse after a lot of hard work in ensuring that all nonconformities are corrected.
Thanks to Matthias and Simon for their untiring support during the time of our suspension.
Also we are very appreciative to Marla for her swift feedback.
To our buyers and prospective buyers, the message is that we are now back as Fair trade certified producers having satisfied FLO-CERT requirements once again.

For more info. http// www.satemwa.com

MATTHIAS KUHLMAN AND SIMON'S VISIT TO SATEMWA BRINGS HOPE

On Saturday 6th October 2008, Satemwa hosted a very high profile personality within the Fairtrade ranking Matthias Kuhlman the FLO Coordinator responsible for Southern Africa who was accompanied by Simon Banda the Liason Officer for Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Matthias came to Satemwa at the time when we are having to sort out things that led to the suspension of our Fair Trade certicate.
Having looked at our initial post suspension communication with Flo-cert, he was impressed we have expeditiously delt with the situation and he hoped it will be over soon.
He did not hide words when hesaid "if we wanted to remain fair trade then we should do what is prescribed by Fairtrade.
He also discussed a great deal of strategic and pressing issues with the Satemwa Management where among other issues on the agenda were:
- Ambiguities within the FT Trade standard.
- The effect of our suspension in respect of negotiating sales contracts bearing in mind the
cropping season is just arround the corner.
Later in the day he held ameeting with the Joint Body members who explained to him how they operate and what projects they have lined up for excution using the Fair trade premium.

Below is a photo of Matthias and the Satemwa Joint Body taken after their meeting:



For more info: http://www.satemwa.com/

SIMON BANDA COMMENDS SATEMWA FOR THINKING BEYOND FAIR TRADE

On 1st July 2008 Simon Banda, the FLO Liason Officer for Southern Africa visited Satemwa Tea Estate. He met with members of the JB together with Management representatives. Among others the following issues were discussed:
1. The Fair Trade standard
2. Audit feed back from Flo-cert.
3. Current premium and Premium projects as per work plan.
4. The future regarding Fair trade activities.
5. Smallholder Tea Growers FT stadards and audit check lists.

He should have been accompanied by Mr. Mathias Kuhlman the FLO boss but the later had travel problems. However, Simon managed to come.
After discussions, Mr. Mandala the Fair trade Officer for Satemwa asked Simon to consider organising training programs for both Joint Body and Management members, on FT standard.
Mandala cited a situation where more producers are getting Fair trade certified hence reducing the Ft market share. This, he said requires a strategic approach in order to create barriers to would be competitors and the only possible way to achieve this is by offering quality products and complying with FT requirements.
On this note Simon was advised that Satemwa JB members will be undergoing a capacity building program to be facilitated by a Consultant.
He commended us for this. He branded this move as "going beyond Fair trade" which would also enhance the competitive advantage.

For more info visit www.satemwa.com

SATEMWA JOINT BODY GEARS UP TO TAKE PART IN ERADICATING RABIES IN THYOLO

As the Thyolo District Veterinary department plans to carry out an anti rabies campaign during the month of August 2008, the Satemwa Joint Body has joined the bandwagon to controll the problem. Having been approached by the Veterinary officials, through consultation with the General Assembly, the Satemwa JB agreed to contribute towards this activity using the Fair Trade premium. The JB has since donated vaccines, syringes, safety boxes, gloves and other materials worth MK50000 ($350). Rabies drugs/vaccines was a major problem hence we thought it wise to intevene and help.
Thyolo is one of the Tea growing districts in Malawi and rabies is a big problem. The common understanding is that the area from where most members of the General Assembly come will be targeted. This confirms the fact that Fair trade can indeed change people's lives.
Acknowledging receipt of the drugs, the DVO applauded fair trade buyers for making available funds that will continue to be used in projects that will improve the socio-economic status of the common person. On a different note he reaffirmed that he will preach the message about Fair trade since he feels most people might not know about the concept.

For more info. visit: www.satemwa.com

THE AMERICAN FAIR TRADE BUYER VISITS SATEMWA TEA ESTATE

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

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.

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.

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.