Thanks to the CoffeeGeek Holiday Fundraiser, we’re now working with the SOPPEXCCA coffee cooperative to help 200 students in three area elementary schools grow fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables.
Nicaragua’s Food Security and Sovereignty law places a curriculum requirement for all schools, but doesn’t often provide funding. So, schools are left on their own to find resources. Luckily, our friend Mark Prince, aka Coffee Geek, stepped in and his network of amazing coffee friends raised enough money to fund this program for the first year.
SOPPEXCCA has been wanting to add school garden programs to its roster of community development services. With its strong agricultural business knowledge and resources like a large compost production facility and a seed saving program, SOPPEXCCA will now lead the community in developing a thriving school garden program. We also brought in local organization ASDENIC to train teachers, parents, student leaders, and cooperative staff to implement the garden and the class work.
Marcela kicked off the program earlier this month, signing the contract with SOPPEXCCA and ASDENIC, and visiting the schools to participate in the training. She found lots of energy and excitement in this wonderful group of coffee-farming families, parents from the community, teachers, and students. Sixty people showed up for the inaugural day of training.
The group defined roles and responsibilities, learned about healthy foods, and created a plan for the program. In the coming year, 200 kids and their families will reap a harvest of organic fruits and vegetables, all produced as locally as it gets. And, they’ll learn about the benefits of replacing junk food with delicious, nutritious food to help them learn, grow, and thrive. As we continue our work with the coffee cooperative, schools and families, we’ll share the program’s progress with you.
From Fatima and the SOPPEXCCA staff:
“We’re grateful for our collaborators and friends who have put their hearts and minds into our rural communities…it is for them that we keep working, committing our energy to those families and rural children…Thank you Food 4 Farmers…thank you Coffee Geek for the holiday fundraiser…thank you to all who have collaborated so UCA SOPPEXCCA can keep up the fight…”
Many thanks to Mark Prince and everyone listed below who gave so generously, challenged others to step up, matched donations, and spread the word. They are making better nutrition for coffee-growing families — and their communities — a reality.
49th Parallel Coffee
Acaia Scales
Aerobie
Baratza
Behmor
Crema Coffee Co.
Detour Coffee Roasters
Espro
Fire Roasted Coffee
JJ Bean Coffee Roasters
La Marzocco Home
Madcap Coffee
Moja Coffee
Morala Trading Inc
Orphan Espresso
Pilot Coffee Roasters
Prado Café
PT’s Coffee Roasting
Reg Barber Enterprises
Social Coffee
Stir Coffee House
Whole Latte Love
Steven Craig Andrews
Andrew Barnett
Ronald Bilow
Ed Bott
Scott Callender
Andrew Campbell
Jason Carlson
Jenn Chen
Dave Cook
Trevor Corlett
Christopher Davies
Doug Finley
Alan Folks
Jeremy Hart
Michael Kossey
Dana Leighton
James Liedeka
Vania Ling
Robert Lowe
Kaelin McCowan
Jennifer Medlin-Lloyd
Hamid Mortazavi
John Neate
Patrick Norton
Sammy Piccolo
Dan Seifert
Craig Seko
Kevin Seymour
Steve Souphanthong
Jeff Taylor
Andrew Wilkin
Roger Wittman
To help sustain this project in 2017 and 2018, go to www.food4farmers.org/support-our-work/.
Designate “school garden program” in the memo line.
Thanks!