Oromia School Fund Development Project

Cooperative Coffee roaster members are busy working on a variety of community-based development projects. They make a real difference by bypassing the buraucracy of larger aid organisations, and working directly with local producers to find out from them what their needs are. Because the solutions are thought up by those that understand the problems best, the locals, the resulting projects are simple, direct and effective.
Higher Grounds Trading, our member in Lake Leelanau, MI., has a variety of ongoing projects. They are currently fundraising money for schools needed in the communities in Ethiopia where Cooperative Coffees purchases their coffee. The recent, critically acclaimed documentary Black Gold (http://www.blackgoldmovie.com/) showed the particular region and people for whom Higher Grounds is hoping to complete their School Fund Project. The film shows a group of farmers discussing how what would be most effective in helping their community is the construction of schools. Those farmers are from Kilenso Mokinso, the producer cooperative that grows our Sidamo coffee.

By giving a showing of Black Gold, Higher Grounds has already succeeded in raising $3000 for this project, but their targeted goal is $20,000.

A tax deductible contribution to the school project can be sent using this form http://glbconference.org/2006-bioneers/donationcard.pdf

To raise funds for this and other projects, they have put together a wonderful photo project on their website, illustrating day to day tasks in the life of coffee producers in Southern Ethiopia. You can access it here http://www.highergroundstrading.com/photos-from-ethiopia.html.

''We as a group are in a very unique situation to collectively harness our wealth for the benefit of others- Ethiopia is a great way to do that.'' -Chris