Fairer prices for sunflower farmers

With support of individuals, organisations and churches across the Isle of Man we established a women’s cooperative for sunflower farmers in Burundi, to get them better access to market and fairer prices. These sunflower farmers are now connected to sunflower oil processors, have increased the price of seeds, have improved agricultural techniques and are more resilient to climate change.

Promoting community health and empowerment

Your support also enabled us to work with communities in Burundi to promote community health, with a focus on women’s empowerment and positive masculinity. With your help we were able to spread health and wellbeing education throughout the world's poorest communities using the simplest of methods: portable DVD players, interactive health DVD's, bicycles and online training messages such as basic first aid.

I am delighted to be Community Health Volunteer in my community of Mayango zone, I am passionate to change my community. I will reach more women and men in and change their mind set in increasing their knowledge of different diseases and ways to prevent them and DVD and solar projector with increase the possibility to deliver the topics.

- Edith Niyonzima, Community Health Volunteer.

Renewable Energy and Gender Empowerment

In an exciting partnership with the Isle of Man Government’s International Development Partnerships scheme, and with support from churches and individuals in the Isle of Man, we invested in a project designed to increase the incomes and financial security of around 6,400 poor and marginalised farmers across five districts in Burundi.

The support from the Isle of Man enabled us to -

  • Provide equipment for a solar-powered coffee processing station for the women’s coffee brand 'Horamama' (meaning 'encouragement')
  • Provide training for 1,623 female coffee farmers in producing high-quality, certified organic coffee
  • Support 18 coffee cooperatives with management and marketing, benefiting over 4,000 coffee farmers
  • Provide a biogas-powered processor to 450 female palm oil farmers, reducing deforestation and air pollution and generating marketable fertiliser
  • Train 600 women on establishing enterprises powered by renewable energy, and facilitate access to micro-loans for enterprises
  • Provide health training and education to over 8,000 women
  • Establish women’s sunflower farmers cooperative to increase access to markets and fair prices, benefiting over 300 farmers

Special thanks to the project sponsor, the IOM Government, whose funding was pivotal to bringing this project to life.