Friday, November 14, 2008

Coffee Kids Announces New Project Partners for 2008-2009

This time of year is always exciting at Coffee Kids. It’s when we announce our project partners for the coming year and begin sending out grants for their programs. We are proud to announce our 12 project partners for 2008-2009. Our partners work in health care, education, microcredit and other community-based programs. This year many have added food security components to address rising food costs. (If you’d like to support these projects, please visit our donate page.)

Many families in coffee-farming communities served by Coffee Kids’ partners cited an almost 100% increase in prices of food staples over the past year. Given increasing populations and the demand for feedstock to produce biofuels, food shortages are affecting people around the world. That means that many of the families served by our partners cannot afford things like education or basic health care since they have to divert almost all of their income to food.

Some of our partners’ efforts include:

• Self-Managed Development (AUGE), a partner working in microcredit and savings programs in Veracruz, Mexico, will educate their members of the current food crisis and encourage the creation of small businesses that provide locally-grown food.


• The Union of Independent Workers of Alianza Property (STIAP) used Coffee Kids funds to expand their biodiesel program in the past year, but will create a permaculture gardening project to supply their community with fresh, organic produce.


• The Association of Northern Cooperatives of Nicaragua (CECOCAFEN) in various parts of Nicaragua will complement their microcredit efforts with a new “Alternative Markets” program to help small business owners commercialize their food products.

Other Coffee Kids partners will address community needs to improve access to education and health care, and diversify local economies for more stable income. All of the programs sponsored by Coffee Kids are created by organizations based in the communities they serve.

For more information on all of our partners and their projects for the upcoming year, please visit our program page! And if you’d like to support these projects, please visit our donate page.