Fair For Life supply chain for organic rooibos from South Africa

During my trip in April 2019, I had the opportunity to meet the teams behind the Fair For Life (FFL) project. Despite the post-apartheid government’s efforts to reduce poverty by investing heavily in social and infrastructure programmes, the situation remains very difficult for African communities (a very high unemployment rate, a large proportion of the population lacking access to housing, education and healthcare, and 48 per cent living below the poverty line).

Furthermore, the teams at the MASIBAMBANE SOCIAL CENTRE, which support agricultural workers and their families in Vredendal, have set up several education-related projects: a nursery and a primary school where around a hundred children also receive meals and medical care, as well as school supplies and uniforms.

However, rooibos pickers also need telephone booths, as most of South Africa is not covered by the mobile phone network; they also need to learn English and Afrikaans to facilitate communication in the workplace, as they all speak different dialects.

All these projects are being implemented this year thanks to FAIR FOR LIFE certification and the commitment of the teams.

This year, terre d’Oc is taking part in the FFL initiative for rooibos and is supporting projects aimed at women (training, access to healthcare, contraception, etc.). A premium of 5 per cent of the value of fair-trade rooibos purchases is also paid to fund these initiatives.

Valérie R. le 14 avril 2019
Fondatrice terre d'Oc