Classes full at four Adult Literacy Schools

Following the success of the pilot project with Satemwa School, 3 further adult literacy schools have now opened in Mwalanthunsi, Chawani and Sabankhanga divisions.  This ensures that all workers and their dependents from Satemwa have access to free evening classes.

550 workers are registered to date with over 70% attendance each day.  Schools run from Monday to Friday, 4.30 – 7pm.

Satemwa Headmaster, overseeing the project, commented “the schools are very popular and the teachers are also happy.  We have a high attendance even though it is harvesting time”.  The JB currently employ 25 teachers to manage all the different levels of classes in each school.  Some students are planning to write their Standard 8 exams next year.  Others, including some grandmothers, are starting in Standard 1.

JB Vice-Chairman, Connex Banda, commented “there are parents studying Standard 1 ..and their grandchildren are in Standard 6, or 7.  The children are helping them…the parents are happier now for the children to go to school, not staying in the village or helping in their gardens”

Satemwa Tea Estates management are helping the JB improve the schools by painting all the new classrooms.

Banda, discussing the latest school in Chawani, comments “we are carrying down new benches and desks each night until we can organise a watchman” .   Satemwa’s main school already benefits from new desks donated by the JB.

A standard 2 class at Chawani school opening night

Water projects Update

The Joint Body have completed the first 12 boreholes and planned for a further 6 to be drilled, completing all compounds and villages around Satemwa.

Following a meeting with Chizinja village, a new project to pipe water from the mountain is in planning to help with safe drinking water and irrigation in the area.

 

Satemwa sports kick off again with the Fairtrade Premiership

By popular demand the Joint Body purchased 6 sets of sports kits.  3 Netball kits and 3 football kits – giving each division area there own teams.

After a few weeks of training, the first matches were played yesterday, drawing hundreds of people to support and enjoy themselves at Satemwa Football and Netball grounds.

Final scores were:

NETBALL

Mwalanthunsi	1
Satemwa	12

 

FOOTBALL

Mwalanthunsi	2
Satemwa	0

 

Aside from the sports, people used the event to enjoy some music, dancing and socialising!

Satemwa Division Netball team

Mwalanthunsi Division Netball team

JB Chairman, Rabson Kalowa, greeting players

 

whoaaa…

Satemwa Division Football team

Mwalanthunsi Division Football team

 

a bit of dancing at half time

it was meant to say ‘fairtrade premium’…but now we have a name for the league..

“This is what fairtrade is all about”…One Third of Workers Begin Adult Education Classes in Satemwa Division

A pilot scheme to develop adult education classes has started at Satemwa school. 

Open to all workers and/or their spouses, the school allows workers to continue their education that they had not managed to finish as children.

The school operates in evenings from 16:30 until 18.00, Mondays to Thursdays.

To date 189 workers from the Factory and Satemwa division have registered and are attending classes (from Standard 1 to Standard 8).  These represent approximately one third of workers in this area….much higher than we had expected.

The next challenge is to open schools in the other divisions so all workers have the same opportunity.  Following the success of the pilot scheme we are estimating in excess of 500 workers attending school again this year. 

First of all we must give the schools access to electricity so they can have lights for the evening classes.  This will tie-in with the JB environment project, using  macro & micro solar power because there are no electricity cables in these areas.

JB Vice-Secretary, Mr Kalowa, commented; “this is what fairtrade is all about.  The workers in my division are very happy.  More and more are coming every day”.

JB members themselves are enjoying going back to school to improve their previous grades or finish their primary education.

Bridges completed

The JB have completed 6 foot bridges in the area to help workers and local communities cross the many streams and rivers at key points between surrounding villages. Beforehand, people had been crossing some of these rivers using old tree trunks laid across the gap (...obviously very dangerous, especially in the rainy season!) - or by having to walk long D-tours to get to a safer crossing.

One of the new bridges in Sabankhanga area

before Maonga bridge is built...

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