The biggest impact on the community is providing stable employment opportunities for the community. They face a lot of labor issues due to Migration and have to compete with a local gold mine and tobacco factory for finding it's workers. It is difficult to sell the idea of coffee amongst workers who are attracted to these competitions merely because it offers a higher income than the rest of the industries. Further the farmers working with This Side Up also benefit deeply from the impact of direct trade since it empowers them to actively show your their identity worldwide through their work.
“ Impact is socio economic development. If he gets the opportunity to fill the pockets of his workers and partners with money, they will find ways to improve their quality of life.”
- RENE PAGUAGUA
EMPOWERMENT THROUGH DIRECT TRADE
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Achievements so far: 5 farmers have organized themselves purely on the basis of trust to work together and collaborate towards a collective future. They could sell their coffees directly to the buyer and this experience of working together closely has helped them think about new ways of learning from one another
What the future holds: They would like collaborate with each other in exchanging knowledge as well as sharing market information so it helps them make better quality coffee and keep on learning from one another. Create better working conditions for the workers that allows them to come back each season as well as stay employed.
INVESTMENT IN ECOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENTS
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What does the future holds: Creating more soil friendly practices including setting up vermiculture units as well as better nutrition for the plants.
