Charity Muthoni started out at the Rukuriri Tea Factory Company in 2011 as a general worker, before becoming a farmer six years ago. So many women tea farmers like Charity are under immense pressure to earn an income from their tea plants, while also running their homes and looking after their families. In the past, Charity has been concerned about affording to send her child to school. Covid-19 brought more worries too – how would she afford face masks and sanitisers?
Joining a Fairtrade-certified Factory can ease some of the pressures for women like Charity, supporting them to afford the essentials. The Fairtrade Premium Sainsbury’s pays on every tonne of tea they buy is managed by the Rukuriri Factory to spend on whatever they need. At Rukuriri, part of the Fairtrade Premium is paid into a ‘staff revolving
For Charity, knowing that she can borrow money at an affordable rate makes paying for her child’s education less stressful. ‘My family has benefitted from Fairtrade through the staff revolving fund,’ she says. ‘If I am unable to pay school fees for my child, I can get a loan from the fund and my child can go back to school, I won’t be worried.’
The loan scheme is also an opportunity to buy things Charity needs to earn extra money, meaning she isn’t so reliant on her income from tea farming. For example, she’s bought a dairy cow so she could get milk for her family but also use manure from it on her crops. ‘I took a loan to buy a dairy cow, which now provides milk for and supplies farm manure.’
Being part of a Fairtrade Factory, supported by Sainsbury’s, has meant Charity could afford the extra expenses incurred from the pandemic. ‘I’ve also bought face masks for everyone to wear, even the children when they go to school,’ she says. ‘I’ve put up a handwashing station at home to ensure everyone cleans their hands with water and soap. I’ve also bought hand sanitisers and taught my family the importance of social distancing.’
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