Beehives and rainwater

Posted in Environment, Our Growers.

Beehives and rainwater

It's time to share some more Taylors Grant Scheme updates – you can find out more about the scheme here.

Ngere Tea Factory, Kenya

What has been achieved?
In partnership with the KTDA Foundation, we have provided six plastic water tanks for rainwater harvesting at six primary schools close to Ngere Tea Factory. In the Ngere area, schools have often had to make do with an unpredictable and scarce water supply which has posed health risks to school children who need adequate water for drinking and hygiene purposes. At the end of July this year the six tanks were installed. This project has supplied a means of providing a reliable and clean source of water to six schools. Jaki Mathaga, Manager of the KTDA Foundation, said: "The handing over of the water tanks to schools in Ngere was especially exciting as there were kids involved. You cannot imagine how good it feels to have clean water and from nearby."

How much did we donate?
Over £1,900, which was match funded by the KTDA Foundation.

Who has benefited?
The water tanks will not only benefit students at all six schools immediately, but will provide safe and clean water for the schools for many years to come.

Gisovu Tea Factory, Rwanda

Rwanda - Gisovu honey 1

What has been achieved?
Gisovu have set up a honey project to provide employment for local people. The project aimed to take advantage of the excellent local flora around Gisovu, which provides the ideal conditions for honey production. The project has drawn on the expertise of Rwanda Honey Ltd, who have confirmed that the area has the potential to product the best honey in Rwanda. With the help of the grant from Taylors, and a match funded investment from Gisovu, the project enabled Gisovu to purchase 30 bee hives and the suits and equipment needed to manage them. The grant also funded five days of training from two qualified bee keepers on site, training workers and smallholders in bee keeping skills and management. So far, land has been prepared at Gisovu and the hives themselves were put in place in July 2014.

How much did we donate?
£2,000. From here, the aim is for the project to become self funding through sales of honey.

Who has benefited?
Not only has the project developed a business which will generate local employment for local people, but following the introduction of the hives Gisovu aim to train local people in bee keeping and honey collection and production techniques, encouraging small tea smallholders to begin to produce their own honey, generating their own source of additional income.

Ipanema Coffee Farm, Brazil

Ipanema Coffee Farm, Brazil - eyes on animals

What has been achieved?
The event goal is to diversify and to expand activities in environmental education. Ipanema Coffees along with Ipanema Institute has been developing a project for the past three years to stimulate the curiosity and to create closer relationships between the residents, employees and the local fauna.

How much did we donate?
£1,900.

Who has benefited?
200 children across five public schools benefited from the project. This year, the children attended an event at the Ipanema Institute where an exhibition of all the materials that they had prepared was showcased.

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