The Waitrose Foundation Ghana
Waitrose Foundation Ghana
In 2009, we launched the Waitrose Foundation for our prepared fruit products sourced from Ghana and South Africa. To date it has raised over £400,000 for development projects in communities involved in the supply of our fresh-cut fruit sold in Waitrose.
Although the prepared fruit supply chain is relatively small, the needs of the local communities are just as great as our other Foundation initiatives.
In a partnership with Blue Skies and Dutch retailer Albert Heijn, we together are able to provide support where it is needed most to improve the livelihoods of farm workers and the communities where projects are based.
The community councils decide how the funding can be spent to meet the needs of the communities, and from these councils more than 15 projects have been funded so far.
Some project examples can be found below:
Abortia Primary School
This project involved the construction of 6 classrooms, an office, staff common room and a 6-seater toilet for a community in Ghana. The school previously had no structure so classes for 120 pupils had to take place under trees. The project was completed in October 2011.The head master of the Mr. Gilbert Kpogli, has said that the provision of the new school is a “great relief since previously no teachers wanted to come to the school because of the nature of the building.
The two pictures illustrate the before and after of Abortia School
Sekyikrom Kindergarten
This project has involved renovating the kindergarten, which currently serves 150 pupils and is the only pre-school in the community in this papaya farming region of Ghana.
This 3-classroom block school, which was built in the 1970s, was in a deplorable state with no doors, windows and unsealed floors.
By providing doors, windows, sealing the roof, plastering the walls and structural repairs, the school has been returned to a building where the children can be taught in a dry and safe environment. It has also involved the construction of a toilet block and a kitchen for children and staff.
I M Manchu IT Centre
This has involved the purchase of 20 computers, a projector, 2 printers and a scanner for an IT resource centre for pupils and neighbouring communities of a school in South Africa.
The new centre was officially opened during the school’s graduation ceremony. Headteacher Mrs Kubheka said that because of the Foundation’s support they are able to connect not only our learners to the internet, but also the entire community.
Waitrose Foundation Products
By buying products with the Waitrose Foundation logo you are helping to fund community projects chosen by farm workers and smallholders who grow and prepare our produce in South Africa, Kenya and Ghana.
