SORWATHE TEA FACTORY: The Impact Of Fairtrade Premium Investments On Workers' Lives, The Community, And Environmental Sustainability
Background of SORWATHE Ltd.
SORWATHE Ltd was established in 1975, initially operating solely as a tea factory that purchased green leaf from out growers. In 1983, we expanded by starting our own tea plantation, which now spans 285 hectares. Our tea is sold under the Garden marks of Rukeri, Cyohoha, Tumba, and Kinihira.
The factory produces CTC black and green tea, Orthodox tea, and green tea, all within our factory complex. Sorwathe Ltd has a long-standing reputation for producing high-quality tea, exporting our products worldwide. Notably, our Orthodox Tea Factory, opened in July 2009, was the first of its kind in Rwanda and remains one of the few in Africa. In 2018, we further expanded by commissioning a new Green Tea Factory.
Fairtrade Certification and ATSO
SORWATHE has been Fairtrade certified since 2006. In alignment with Fairtrade standards, our workers established the legally registered Workers’ Association, ATSO, on May 3, 2018. This association represents all 2,462 SORWATHE workers, including 1,357 men, 636 women, and 469 youth.
Fairtrade Premium Management and Its Impact Through ATSO
In the heart of our tea factory, a quiet revolution is taking place, driven by the Fairtrade Premium.
It’s a story of empowerment, education, and a brighter future for our workers.
Since receiving its first premium, ATSO has been entrusted with 714,428,918 Rwf from the Fairtrade Premium, which has grown to 1,102,563,369 Rwf through investments and income generation (source: ATSO data). These funds have been strategically invested in 34 projects across three categories: social (8 projects), economic (22 projects), and environmental (4 projects). Some of the key projects include:
- Education: Schools establishment (nurseries, school fees loans for workers, Teaching English to empower workers with language skills.
- Healthcare: Payment of medical insurance for workers, ensuring access to essential health services.
- Transportation: Purchase of a bus to improve connectivity between the community around SORWATHE and other areas.
- Housing and Income Generation: Buying houses for rent and purchasing tea plantations as income-generating assets.
- Environmental Protection: Distribution to members cooking stoves, peace-maker stoves, and cooking gas to reduce environmental impact and promote sustainable practices.
- Water Accessibility: Installation of a water pipeline to improve access to clean water for the community
Behind every cup of tea lies a story of hope and progress. The Fairtrade Premium has brought profound changes to the lives of our factory workers—changes that resonate far beyond the workplace.
Early Childhood Development program IMPACT STORY
” My name is UWANYIRIGIRA Pelagie. I oversee Social Affairs and serve as the ECD Coordinator. Additionally, I am a member of both the Grievance Committee and the Health and Safety Committee of the General Assembly of ATSO. I have 10 years of experience in service at SORWATHE.
Fairtrade premium has played a significant role in improving the lives of SORWATHE workers and the wider community by funding various projects aimed at enhancing our livelihoods. Today, I want to share my testimony, focusing on the impact of Early Childhood Development (ECD) initiatives.
Before the establishment of ECD centres, our children faced unsafe and insecure living conditions, which caused great concern for their parents. This anxiety affected not only the well-being of the children but also the productivity of their parents at work. Parents were often distracted, worrying about their children, which impacted their ability to work effectively. However, since the introduction of ECD centres, our children are now cared for in a safe and trustworthy environment.
A clear example of this improvement is seen in the case of a woman tea plucker. Before the establishment of the ECD centre, she could only pluck 15 kg of green leaves per day. After the ECD centre was established, she can now pluck up to 50 kg of green leaves daily. This significant increase in productivity benefits both the plucker and the factory.
With the support of the Fairtrade premium, we have constructed four nursery classrooms in various locations, including MURWA, GAKO, and REBERO. Additionally, teachers at St. Joseph Primary School and CYOHOHA Nursery School receive their salaries from the Fairtrade premium. “
Some Challenges
Despite the positive impact of the ECD centres, there is still a need for more ECD facilities, as the existing ones are not sufficient. The number of caregivers in the ECD centres is still inadequate. Some children must travel long distances to reach the ECD centres
Our Suggestions
- Increase the number of ECD centres, as they cater to children aged 0 to 3 years, while nurseries accommodate children aged 3 to 6 years.
- Increase the number of teachers to ensure better care and education for the children.
We are very grateful for Fairtrade Africa for their contribution to our life’s improvement through fairtrade premium and other support they always offer SORWATHE community.
GAHAMANYI Leonard Story
My name is GAHAMANYI Leonard, I work in SORWTAHE garden and started working with SORWATHE in 1996.
My story is about Health insurance.
Before SORWATHE get certified Fairtrade, paying health insurance was not easy because the employer was paying for workers only and the salary was very little, after getting certified and getting premium it has helped us a lot, ATSO started with providing loans for Health insurance payment and we pay in six instalments and without interest, things has changed and they started paying for us not only for workers but for all ATSO members. We now access all health service and on time without difficulties. However, the premium has been reducing overtime.
In this 2024 year, ATSO also covered the cost for me to obtain additional driving license categories. I now hold both Category F and B licenses. With this stability, I am even able to support my brothers in getting their driving licenses. However, the repayment period for the loan is short because the premium funds are limited.
MUKAMAZIMPAKA Esperance story
My name is MUKAMAZIMPAKA Esperance, and I am responsible for cleaning and hygiene at SORWATHE. I am also a member of the health and safety committee and the first aid emergency committee. I have been working with SORWATHE for 27 years, starting in 1997.
My story is about the English school established through the Fairtrade premium. I began learning English at 40 years old. I started my career as a tea plucker in the RUKERI tea plantation and later moved to the tree nursery, where I began learning English. I worked for seven years in the tree nursery before passing the exam at SORWATHE, thanks to my English skills, and became a tea factory worker. Learning English help me communicate with my supervisors, many of whom are expatriates.
NYIRANDIKUMANA Dative story
My name is NYIRANDIKUMANA Dative, and I work for SORWATHE as a Sustainability Assistant Officer. In addition to my primary role, I serve as a member of the Health and Safety Committee, the Environmental Protection Committee, and as an inspector in the Gender Committee. I also coordinate meetings and am responsible for reminding committees that may forget to organize their meetings.
I have been working at SORWATHE for 15 years and 6 months. I would like to start by thanking SORWATHE for partnering with Fairtrade and commend ATSO for its management of the Fairtrade premium. Through the premium funds, I was able to learn English and now hold a certificate. Additionally, I received a cooking stove and gas, which has spared me from the harmful fumes of firewood.
With a loan I received from ATSO, I was able to support a child from a poor family to attend school for three years. It’s not just me who has benefited from the premium; I have witnessed a reduction in tree cutting since cooking stoves were provided, and there has been a decrease in school dropouts among children from poor families. These are just some of the ways we have benefited from the Fairtrade premium.
However, challenges remain. The premium funds are still insufficient to meet the needs of all beneficiaries. We suggest that if our buyers and clients could increase their purchase quantities, it would help us receive more premium and provide greater support to many more workers and farmers.
In conclusion, I would like to share that I raised my child in the Early Childhood Development (ECD) program, which allowed me to work with peace of mind. I currently have another child in the ECD program, who is now one year old.
Thank you very much
CHRISTOPHE NZAYISENGA STORY
My name is CHRISTOPHE NZAYISENGA, and I work for SORWATHE as tea maker, specifically overseeing the sorting room for OTD. I have been with SORWATHE for 13 years, starting in the tea plantation in 2011. In 2013, I transitioned to working in the factory and later joined ATSO, the organization that manages the Fairtrade premium.
Thanks to the support from the Fairtrade premium, I was able to learn English, overcoming language barriers in communication. Together with my colleagues, we formed a study group and received funds to continue our education. We are now completing our bachelor’s degrees, all made possible by the premium funds. This support has not only benefited me but also my family, as I look forward to potential promotions and better opportunities at work.
The impact of the Fairtrade premium extends beyond individual achievements. It has contributed to reducing school dropout rates and provided families with essential items like mattresses, replacing the grass beds they once used.
We are incredibly grateful to SORWATHE for becoming Fairtrade certified and to our FPC committee for their excellent management of the premium. I am especially thankful to Fairtrade for the support they offer to tea producers and workers. My suggestion is that if the premium could be increased, it would allow us to reach more people and create an even greater impact on our lives as workers and producers.
Thank you.
