Supporting School Attendance for tea workers

Tea workers at the West Jalinga tea estate in Assam, India, recently identified consistent school attendance as a shared community priority. For many families, purchasing basic school items such as bags and umbrellas adds pressure to already limited budgets. Workers noted that these costs can affect how consistently children are able to attend school. Through discussions led by the Fair Trade Committee, workers agreed to invest their Community Development Funds to provide these essential school supplies. In 2025, the committee allocated $5,500 USD to purchase and distribute one durable school bag and one umbrella for every school-going child. The committee carefully coordinated the procurement and organized the distribution to ensure all identified students received their new items in time for the upcoming school period. Ultimately, a total of 710 students received the supplies, directly supporting their ability to attend school with the necessary materials. By covering these essential items, families reduced their financial burdens and can now better manage their household budgets. This worker-led investment reflects a practical decision to support education through tangible inputs that respond directly to everyday needs.