Since 2018, all funds raised through UK Coffee Week have supported Project Waterfall’s work in the Jabi Tehnan district of Ethiopia where 38% of people rely on coffee for work.
Ethiopia is considered the biological and cultural home of coffee but it’s also one of the countries most affected by the water crisis. 75% of people have no clean water and 95% lack access to sanitation.
Project Waterfall, in partnership with WaterAid, is bringing clean drinking water, education and sanitation to over 10,000 people. However, COVID-19 has been catastrophic, for the coffee industry as a whole, but especially those at its source.
The lack of water and hand-washing facilities to stop the spread of infectious diseases makes our work more important than ever.
Despite the challenges of the global pandemic a huge amount has been achieved so far.
But we need your help to complete our work and turn on the taps in Jabi Tehnan.
In the last six months:
Work on water pumps in the Weyima community has been completed and they are ready to use. A local association has been set up by the community to run the water provision.
A borehole has been built in the Mankusa Abdogma community and tests have established that the water is safe to drink. When the well is completed, a further 5,000 people will have access to clean, safe drinking water.
Work is underway to build a 100m3 reservoir.
A solar pumping system has been put in place, using renewable energy to pump the water from the borehole to the reservoir.
Toilet blocks at Weyima primary school have now been completed and handed over to the local community.
Several workshops have been organised in the district to share knowledge and best practise for improved hygiene and sanitation.
The community has worked together to come up with a joint action plan to reach 100% sanitation coverage.
A gender equality workshop was held for 38 couples, enabling the women, to understand their rights to the new facilities and enhance their involvement in decision-making within the community.
Further training has been provided to health leaders within the community.
Clubs and training sessions have been held at schools across the district, focussing on hygiene practices and health.
The project has established an accountable Rural Water User Association to be responsible for running the new Water Supply System.
Kibeb Tilaye, 40, spreading out the coffee beans that she has collected from her farm so that they can dry, Woyinima Workima village, Jabi Tehnan District, West Gojjam Zone, Amhara, Ethiopia.
PC: .WaterAid/ Frehiwot Gebrewold
Hodaddis, 11, pounding coffee beans with a wooden pestle to separate the beans from the chaff, Woynima clinic village, Jabi Tehnan District, West Gojjam Zone, Amhara, Ethiopia, December 2019.
PC: WaterAid/ Frehiwot Gebrewold
Hodaddis placing the ground coffee beans on a traditional winnowing tray, Woynima clinic village, Jabi Tehnan District, West Gojjam Zone, Amhara, Ethiopia
PS: WaterAid/ Frehiwot Gebrewold
How you can help
We now need to raise that final £15,000 (or even more!) to complete the Jabi Tehnan project. Every penny goes straight to Project Waterfall’s work on the ground.
In return we’ve got caffeine-fuelled rewards and experiences starting from £10. Brands involved include our Sponsor Allpress, UK Coffee Week supporters Square Mile, Colonna, and 92 Degrees, along with Dear Green, Balance Coffee, Barista & Co, and our Industry Partner Brewed by Hand.
There’s a home barista foundation course from The Global Coffee School (donate £80) and you could bag a year’s coffee subscription from Rave Coffee (Donate £100) or a training session with team GB olympian athlete Jodie Williams (donate £250). Plus a mega KIND bundle worth over £100 (Donate £35) from our Official Snack Partner Kind Snacks.
Visit the #TurnontheTaps in Jabi Tehnan, Ethiopia Crowdfunder project to find out more.
Some of the rewards available!
