We’re honored to share the outcome of Together for H2OPE: Madagascar, a Numi Foundation initiative that delivered clean water to 4,000 people across 12 villages in Madagascar—the farming community that supplies organic, Fair Trade Certified turmeric root for our turmeric teas.*
“Ensuring the health, well-being and prosperity of our farming communities has always been core to Numi’s philosophy. With Together for H2OPE we are putting that ethos into action.” —Ahmed Rahim, CEO and Co-Founder, Numi Organic Tea
Partnering to Thrive
When we conceived our line of turmeric teas in early 2013, there was a very limited supply of Fair Trade Certified turmeric on the market. We knew we wanted to uphold the sustainable practices that are the foundation of Numi, and we found ourselves faced with two options: develop a line that is not certified Fair Trade, or help an existing turmeric farm become certified. As you can imagine, the second option won our hearts. Working with our supply partners, we connected with a group of turmeric farmers in eastern Madagascar who had recently received organic certification—their turmeric was the best we had ever seen. We agreed to partner and take things to the next level by contributing funds for Fair Trade certification, and equipment needed to get the farms upgraded.
Turmeric, a perennial plant of the ginger family, is native to southern Asia where it has been used for thousands of years and is a major part of Siddha medicine. It was first used as a dye, and then later for its medicinal properties.
As a Fair Trade purchasers, Numi pays a premium that goes directly to the farming cooperatives, where usage is decided upon democratically.
The cooperative voted to use Fair Trade premiums for building a warehouse, purchasing computers, and more. Increased incomes have also allowed families to afford schooling for their children.
Taking on the Next Challenge
Together for H2OPE: Madagascar was born in 2015 during a visit to our turmeric farming partners. The investment in Fair Trade certification had improved their incomes significantly, but we learned the community was collecting their drinking water from the same contaminated river they used as a repository for human and animal waste, and often suffering illness as a result. We felt compelled to act.
Unfortunately this beautiful river—the Rianila—is not a safe source for drinking water.
Women and children trekked 3 kilometers to and from the Rianila, up to 5 times each day, to collect water. To minimize contaminants, the water was boiled before consuming.
Celebrating the Outcome
In partnership with the Numi Foundation and thanks to generous contributions from supply chain and retail partners, Numi employees, and tea-loving consumers like you, this farming community now has 23 wells serving 4,000 people spread across 12 villages. With wells right outside their homes, each family—and their children’s children—has access to clean water.
We arrived to find each well adorned with greenery and artfully crafted fences—a truly beautiful expression of pride and ownership.
“Through Together for H2OPE we are ensuring our farming communities have access to clean water while doing our part to address the water crisis that affects over 600 million people worldwide.” —Reem Rahim Hassani, CBO and Co-Founder, Numi Organic Tea
During our visit, an in-country documentary team captured this milestone accomplishment in the video below. We hope this story will inspire individuals and businesses to realize they can have a positive impact on people and planet through thoughtful choices and actions.
* November 2016 Update: Our partnership in Madagascar continues expanding to assure all needs are met. Since this video was captured in May 2016, a total of 23 wells have been built to serve 4,000 people.
Next up is Together for H2OPE: India, our second H2OPE initiative focused in the Northern Assam region where our most popular black teas are cultivated. There are over 6,000 people living on India’s largest tea community there, and currently every one of them is drinking water contaminated with E.coli and lead. In partnership with Women’s Earth Alliance, a global nonprofit with a decade of experience in community-led safe water projects around the world, we are working with farmers, local NGOs, and the Assam management team to change that. And not just for a year or two, but for generations to come.
This is great! So happy my students were able to participate in hosting a tea party to help this cause! Can we host another tea party this year to help the cause in India? Thanks for all you do!
Mary, HUGE thanks to you and your students for supporting this initiative. We’ll be unveiling plans for India soon, and look forward to anything you would like to do to help.