Education Near Home

Coffee farmers in the Guji Zone of Oromia, Ethiopia, are part of the community around Kayon Mountain Coffee Farm, a specialty coffee producer Fair Trade Certified since 2018. Over the past five years, the farm has implemented the Agricultural Production Standard and supported projects identified by farmers and community members as local priorities. One of the clearest needs was access to primary education. The Fair Trade Committee recognized the absence of nearby schools in the area, and the General Assembly voted to construct two schools for the community using Fair Trade Community Development Funds: Sewala Birbirsa Meskala Primary School and Taro Mansity Primary School. The project was built with strong community participation. During construction, community members contributed labor by carrying bricks for builders and supplying water at the school sites. The schools were located near farmers’ homes so children could reach class more easily. Both schools serve grades 1 through 4, and the Ethiopian government has assigned teachers to support instruction. The schools are open to children in the surrounding community, including families who do not supply coffee to Kayon Mountain, which broadened the project’s reach beyond the farm itself. The construction of these two schools significantly expanded access to education in the area. Previously, many children had to travel long distances to the nearest school, which created barriers to regular attendance and learning and increased risks linked to children being out of school. Today, total enrollment across the two schools is 600 students, with an average of about 75 students per class. When the community decides, the investment responds to real needs and leaves lasting benefits.