‘Fairtrade tea has meant fresh water for my family’

Teresa Kurgat, 48, Kenya

The late morning sun beats down T

as I pluck the final few tea leaves from the plant. I’ve been up for nearly seven hours, and it’s almost time to prepare lunch. Already this morning, I have swept the kitchen, made breakfast, milked the cows and done some washing. Now, after five hours of picking, it is finally time for a break before I clean the house I share with my husband, Joseph, our children and grandchildren, and start my second job.

Although tired, I am grateful. A few years ago, I’d also have had to collect water from a stream 1.5km away. Luckily, the organisation Fairtrade – which has also ensured we get a better price for some of our tea – funded the construction of a water tank in 2011, meaning that my family and animals have had access to clean, fresh water – and plenty of it! We are all happier, and the cows are making more milk than ever.

I now also have time to run a small kiosk selling tea, sugar and salt to local people. With this money, I’ve paid for school fees and I am hoping to buy a car.

Although Fairtrade tea only accounts for about 8% of tea sold in the

UK, it has made a difference in my world. I sometimes think of the people thousands of miles away sipping at the tea I’ve picked, and wonder if they realise how much it means that we get a fair price for our crop.

Having the water tank and time to run the kiosk has made a real difference – with the cost of food and medical services getting higher all the time, the extra money is very much needed!

It’s easy for people to forget how far their tea has travelled and the families involved in growing the leaves they love – I’m happy that Fairtrade helps them to remember.