It’s the last day of 2016. I sit outside my mother’s
house and look at the fog covered Mt Kenya. It has been quite a journey...
 |
| View of Mt Kenya from Ndurutu Village |
36 months, 992 Farmers, 93 Tonnes of Green beans
shipped to Germany and an amazing load of coffee friends and family. This is
the story of Kedovo Coffee Project. This is the story of a continuous journey
of the coffee producing community of the Abedare Mountains selling their coffee
directly to Germany.
 |
| Coffee drying at Thageini Wet Mill |
The last three years
have been amazing though not easy. We have met and made great coffee
friends, long term partnerships with the goal of strengthening these farming
villages have been made, and we are heading towards progressive and sustainable
farming practices. The grey hairs on my head tell it all......
What coffee producers have needed is a reliable market
that offers a good, steady price for coffee beans.The Kedovo Coffee Project has
done more than just to improve trade relationships and access to International
market. We have continued to ensure that part of our revenue is returned to
these coffee farming communities to support social development projects. A total of 8,785 farming families have
directly benefited from these services.
 |
| My mother hand selecting ripe cherries |
We have been meeting our farmers the last weeks,
visiting their farms, having discussions, drawing plans for the project
together, receiving first hand experience to help us understand the health of the cooperatives and the
challenges faced by the people responsible for our delicious coffees, and finding solutions together as a community. Its from these meetings that we can hear about the challenges and the successes from the harvest. Its also from these meetings that we can give feedback to our farmers about the previous harvest.These are my people...
 |
| Zackie holding discussions with a group of coffee farmers |
 |
| Farmer's field day, learning all about cupping and what a roaster looks for in a coffee |
I have hope and comfort that a time will eventually come when we can start celebrating improved quality, meet market demand and the farmers be in a position and have the ability to understand coffee markets.
The work of KEDOVO Coffee Project is to avail coffee from these communities directly in Europe and connect foreign roasters with these farmers in order to forge long term partnerships for both parties. We continue promoting and ensuring Transparency in the way Kenyan coffee is traded. Farmers need to know what happens to their coffee once its sold to importers and roasters.
 |
| Kedovo Coffee Trip dec 2016 |
 |
| Yes we can do this!!! |
Our work in supporting the Social development of these communities has not waivered. This has only been made possible by you all who continue purchasing our coffee.
The Project on Installation of Solar Power Systems for families of Ndurutu Wet Mill has been progressing as planned and we have managed to Install Solar systems for 12 families so far. The target for this
project is to cover 50 farmers.
 |
| supporting a Kedovo Coffee Farmer with a solar system |
We know and believe that the livelihoods of these communities will only be changed if coffee farming is economically sustainable. We continue supporting sustainable coffee farming practices
that respects the crop, the soil and the farmers. We supported Ndurutu Wet Mill
with Inputs such as Protective farming gear and Fertilizers. This is the only
way we can continue planting seeds for a better future.
 |
| Zackie & Joseph ensuring nothing is left to chance |
 |
| Caro our coffee soldier, thanking on of the farmer's for his dedication in coffee farming |
 |
| Nicole handing over protective clothing to the Chairman of Ndurutu Wet Mill |
 |
| support of inputs- fertilizers to improve soil nutrients |
 |
| Karl Heinz helping a farmer load a bag of Fertilizer at Ndurutu wet mill |
I grew up in a world of struggle, survival but amidst all hope. My father believed that education was the only way we would overcome our poverty situation. We had the best education he could afford through proceeds from coffee production. My community has no other source of income. We rely on coffee. Our Kedovo project on Education for Sustainable development for the children of our coffee producers is rooted deep in our hearts. We have been there...we know the worries of not knowing if tomorrow you will be in the classroom, we know the frustrations of learning in a dusty, leaking classroom. We know the embarassment of going to school in torn uniform...
The renovation of Ndurutu Primary school phase two
started in December 2016 to finish up the remaining classrooms.
 |
| beginning of second phase of renovations |
 |
| renovations underway |
 |
| renovated part -phase two |
 |
| Non renovated class- Phase two |
 |
| renovated classes-phase two |
In December we began our new project which is the
construction of an Admnistration Block for Ndurutu Primary School. This would not have been possible without the support of our development partners BINGO Projektförderung Schleswig Holstein and you all our coffee gang. And on behalf of my people, our sincere thanks...
 |
| Zackie of Kedovo showing off the plans for the new adminstration block to chairman of PTA and the Local government authorities |
 |
| communities for each other |
 |
| construction of modern Adminstration Block for Ndurutu Primary underway |
To continue supporting these communities we have on
offer Green coffee (Rohkaffee) from Ndurutu Wet Mill & Thageini Wet
Mill F.O.T Bremen or Hamburg, transport within Germany & the EU
arrangable at a cost. Please contact Soni Schneidewind or NicoleBoedtger for information on samples, prices and contract.
For roasted Chania coffee kindly purchase from our
Online Shop or visit our offices in Kaltenkirchen. Visit the shop & Cafe
'Ein Welt Laden' located at the VHS in Kaltenkirchen , am Kretemoor 40, or pass
by at our stand at the Kaltenkirchener Wochenmark every Saturday from
07:00 hrs to 12 noon.
The journey continues.....
