Government Grants for All

Financial Help for Working Mothers Trying to Get Back Into School

Working mothers are the pride of every family, who are able to cook, clean, maintain house and a career all at the same time. Living a working mothers life is no joke and they have no time to waste at all considering their busy schedules. Keeping this is mind, college grants for working mothers have been designed in such a way that it meets the requirements of the working mothers and allows them to go forward in their educational life which will help them to climb the career ladder swiftly.

The grants for the working mothers come in from different sources. We have the eLearners whose main motive is to spread the need of education amongst the mothers by providing various grants and scholarships. ‘Project Working Mom: Putting Education to Work’ is an outstanding initiative from eLearners which profusely helps the working mothers to get their share of education which they missed during their years of motherhood. The project is highly committed and has announced to provide 285 full-tuition scholarships for the mothers, in total an amount of $5 million towards these grants for the year 2010. Ford Opportunity Program is also another dedicated agency pouring scholarship amount worth $10,000 to three mothers studying at the Oregon College. W.I.S.P. Change Your World Scholarship, Sunshine Lady Foundation Scholarship Program and The R.O.S.E. Scholarship are a different category of scholarship programs which are totally providing all the necessary support to those working mothers who have been previously assaulted by their spouses and these scholarships would like to care for these special women who need financial aid to stand up in their lives.

Federal grants and Obama’s ‘Moms return to school’ program are very much devoted to the betterment of the working mothers. The federal government has become extremely open and to apply for a federal grant is very much free and does not include much hassles. Pell grants are the most simplest of the federal grants and a working mother could be entitled to $5500 if she qualifies for the same. The government will be providing 250 thousand women with federal grants to explore the wonderful treasure which lies hidden in education. MRSGG program is also a great initiation to see the mothers studying again at colleges and universities. Working mothers need not worry about the lack of time to study at campus as most of these programs are so structured that they have the online mode of lessons and classes which really helps the working mothers in a significant way.

Working mothers need a push to progress further in their lives and without proper education, they cannot move ahead in their career path. College grants for working mothers have been introduced with the only motive of bestowing better living conditions and in turn a sound future to the working mothers.

Many places offer scholarships just for being in a specific group. Take just a few minutes to get a scholarship just for being a mother. That’s $10,000 that does not have to be paid back. Here it is, Scholarship for Mothers and it’s free.

Tags: Back, Financial, Help, Into, Mothers, School, Trying, Working

How to Turn a Boring Book Report Into a Fun Project Kid’s Will Love?

Are you a member of the school of thought that says the classic book report is jaded and old? While it’s beneficial to have students do a book report or two throughout the year, there are alternatives that can be more appealing and that will give the students a chance to express themselves in alternative ways. Students can complete a book report assignment in artistic formats or in formats that foster good communications skills while still deriving the same benefit from the task. Let’s look at some alternate book report assignments.

Bringing Out the Artist in Your Students

Students love to showcase their budding artistic skills and you will be surprised by how much fun your students will have by turning a traditional book report into a work of art. You may find that some students are more clearly able to express what they learned from the book through artwork. Some ideas to get you started:

· Create a picture or collage of the book. Using regular crayons and art stock paper have students illustrate a particular scene from the book, or an event or character that gives a good sense of what the book was about, or what they learned from reading the book. Have each student present their work in front of the class and explain the scene that they have recreated. Designate one bulletin board in the classroom or outside your classroom door to showcase the pieces when the assignment ends.

· Create a book jacket. Have students create a book jacket (both inside and outside) that reflects the ideas that they think are most important for the book. Keep in mind that a book jacket has not only cover art, but also has a summary of the book located on the inside of the jacket, or on the back, or both.

· Create life size characters. Based on the books that they read, have students work in groups to create life size characters. Working in pairs, have students trace one another’s figure onto a large sheet of paper (like the kind that comes on rolls and is available in art supply stores) and then bring a character from the book to life using crayons, markers, and other mediums.

· Create a comic book. Have students create a comic strip layout of the book that they have read.

Encouraging Communication

A book report assignment can be just the perfect way to get your students to develop oral communications skills or experience public speaking. While some students are just natural born “talkers”, others, as you know, are more reserved and some are borderline shy. Learning to speak in front of others is a very important skill and learning to effectively communicate with others is just as vital. You can help students develop or hone their communications skills through alternative book report assignments, such as:

· Panel discussions. Have groups of students read the same book and then discuss the story, plot, characters and more.

· Prepare and present a synopsis. Have students prepare a two-minute synopsis of the book that they have read to present in front of the class.

· Interviews. Have the class read the same book – and then interview them, asking them questions about the book as if they are a character in the story. Assign a character to each student, or have several students be the same character, depending on the size of the class and the number of main characters in the book.

· Presentation. Have students create props that are related to the story line, and that all fit within a regular sized folder. Have the student give a presentation of the story using their props in front of the class.

Any of these ideas can become a great way to involve your students in the world of reading, and allow them to share their reflections and what they have learned in unique ways.

Tags: Book, Boring, Into, Kids, Love, Project, Report, Turn

US regulator assists inquiry into Indigo

The US financial watchdog is believed to be helping the financial services authority with its inquiry into the stake building activities of Indigo Capital, a New York financial advisory company, which last week said it was considering an offer Regus, the troubled offices group.

News of cooperation between the securities and exchange commission and the FSA comes amid claims that Robert Bonnier, the former chief executive of dotcom flop Scoot.com, has close links to Indigo Capital.

The FSA is thought to be looking into Indigo’s stakebuilding in Regus, which has helped Regus shares double since the start of the year.

Last Tuesday, Indigo issued a statement in which said it was interested in exploring a “wide range of strategic, commercial and financing alternatives with the Regus, one of which may include a recommended takeover”.

On Wednesday it emerged that Indigo had been selling down its stake in Regus and on Thursday it revealed that it owned only 0.12% of its 12.7% stake.

Indigo said the balance was being held through a derivatives instrument known as “contracts for difference” taken out with spread betting company Cantor Fitzgerald.

Little is known about Indigo, which was set up in 1998 and became an active investor in internet companies such ci4net.com and Novix Media at the height of the 90s dotcom boom.

Its founders are Larry Bouts, a former chief executive of Six Flags Theme Parks and president of Toys R Us International, and Anthony Dubb, once a senior executive at investment bank CSFB.

The company occupies a suite in a brutal black skyscraper at the swanky address of 450 Park Avenue, New York. The building has seen better days. Alfred Dunhill, which occupied much of the store front at street level, has moved elsewhere. The entrance to the offices is undergoing refurbishment and an optimistic drawing of the plans sits in the temporary back entrance.

Indigo’s offices are on the 21st floor, a dimly lit and narrow corridor of suites most of which appear to be financial boutiques of one kind or another with names such as Lily Pond Capital and Blue Hill Holdings.

Indigo shares its suite with American Investments, behind a solid, powder blue door. The firm was not receptive to inquiries from the Guardian.

A secretary with her desk close to the door took a business card to one of the two frosted glass-encased offices visible from the door.

“The person you need to talk to is travelling,” the secretary explained as she returned, adding that she could not give out names or phone numbers.

Tags: assists, Indigo, Inquiry, Into, regulator

Sheilah Griggs Helps Women Turn Big Dreams Into Success

Women are leaving corporate America in droves and starting businesses at almost three times the rate of men.

A local advertising executive is helping lead the revolution for women entrepreneurs in Nashville through an organization called Ladies Who Launch. Among other things, the group holds intensive incubation workshops for women who need help developing new business ideas or who are thinking of expanding.

Sheilah Griggs, vice president of Point 3 Media, has been executive director of the Nashville chapter of Ladies Who Launch since 2007. She also is a single mom with a 16-year-old teen.

She moved to Nashville in 2003 to start her media company for the very same reasons scores of other women seek out Ladies Who Launch: to shake up their careers and follow their dreams.

From the Marathon Motor Works building, where Point 3 Media is, Griggs talked with Tennessean business writer Bonna Johnson about how women approach entrepreneurship differently from men.

Tell me about Ladies Who Launch and how it works as a resource for business owners.

Ladies Who Launch is an online and in-person nationwide networking organization. We have over 100,000 subscribers across the country and 20,000 following on Twitter and Facebook. Here in Nashville, it has become a resource for women and an outlet for them to connect, grow, learn and support one another.

Online, there are resources from how to write a business plan, to (prepare) invoices and all kinds of things. A lot of times a woman is working out of her home and doesn’t have those resources readily available. We provide connectivity and, really, inspiration for women.

Everybody has a different perspective. You have women in their early 20s and women who are over 60 years old. They end up giving each other so much. The younger ones bring some technological ideas that maybe the older ones don’t have; and the older (business) person brings that experience and skill level.

How did you get involved in Ladies Who Launch?

I got involved by going through one of the incubators myself, where 12 people come together for four weeks and you bring an idea. My favorite thing about the incubator is that the first week, you don’t work on your project at all. You work on everybody else’s. So the time you’re concentrating on everyone else’s dream, 11 people are concentrating on yours.

As women, we tend to not ask for help very well. We do things for everyone else, so we love to help, yet we just don’t think anyone wants to help us. One of the exercises in the incubator is learning how to ask for help.

At the end of four weeks, I had formulated a business name (Idiom Entertainment, a sister company to Point 3 Media), and I had a mission statement. For me, it was such an inspirational and productive time. When they called and asked if I would lead the Nashville chapter, I said I’d love to.

Since then, we’ve had about 400 women go through the program. It has enriched my life personally with the relationships I’ve developed, but also professionally. I really see a lot of the growth in Point 3 Media having to do with connections I’ve made around the city with these women.

We’ve seen more accidental or reluctant entrepreneurs who lost a job in the recession, and start their own company. What are some common themes in those stories?

We’ve seen 30 percent to 40 percent growth in 2009 because of that. Women are losing their jobs, or their husband has lost a job. They’re seeing pay cuts, too. A lot of times women will say, “If I’m going to work this hard for this amount of money, I’d rather work for myself and do something I love.”

I see a lot of moms who know they need to go back to work or have that desire but they also want to be a mom and not have a nanny raising their children. So, they want to work around their schedule or (work) from home. Or, they have a newborn and want to stay home with the child. It’s a natural instinct for us as mothers. We give them resources so they can do both.

Are there common themes as far as the types of businesses that women launch here?

No. I have women from the pest-control industry to the travel industry. The one theme is they are very service-oriented and people-oriented. They derive fulfillment through relationships and move their businesses forward through relationships. A lot of them tend to go into areas of service where they can work with people. Women want to feel like they’re filling a need.

The idea of being your own boss certainly sounds liberating, but what are some of the realities that women entrepreneurs have faced with a slower economy?
Women don’t like to deal with finances. We just did a seminar that was: “Girls Just Want to Have Funds.” The response was great.

Women want to deal with being creative doing what we love and being passionate. We tend to get afraid of the financial side. We provide resources so everyone is educated and has an idea of what it will take.

What are some of the biggest success stories from Nashville’s Ladies Who Launch?

One young lady I met three years ago had worked at Walt Disney as an event planner, but her husband got a job here. She moved here and didn’t know anybody. She put her idea for a wedding and event planning business in the incubator. She came up with the name, A Magical Affair, and everything else about her business. It has just exploded.

She’s done a Titans football player’s wedding, music industry people’s weddings. Now she’s coming back and will incubate another business idea.

The neat thing about the group is that it’s a lot like a focus group. You get your idea right to your target audience because most women create a business that other women need themselves.

How do women approach entrepreneurship differently than men?

Women are finding they choose a lifestyle reason to start a business, and they want to follow their passion. Money is probably third. That’s very different from men. Women aren’t always concerned with an exit strategy when they start a business, like men are.

Women look at their business more like children. They nourish them. They grow them. And they can’t imagine letting a business go.

It’s important for women to realize they think differently from men, and that’s OK. That’s an important part of my message. We beat ourselves up a lot because we’re not fitting into a male model of business. It’s not being anti-men or saying that’s the wrong way, it’s just that we think differently. When women start to embrace that, they can be more productive.

Tell me about your work history. You started modeling at age 12, right?

Yes, a long time ago. I loved the on-camera and being able to share or convey a message. I also started doing a lot of spokesperson work. That parlayed into working in New York for the Israeli consulate and jobs speaking on behalf of others. I got a lot of enjoyment and fulfillment from that.

I still actually get to do photo shoots for clients and do a lot of on-camera work. I’ve done a lot for the medical cosmetic industry. I still have advertisers I work for. I’ve done several hundred commercials in the last few years.

What niche does your company, Point 3 Media, fill as a business?

Larry Roy founded the company, and I moved here and was doing freelance media work. We found each other and decided this was something we wanted to do together. He had Point 3 Nashville and I had Griggs Media, and we merged.

I wanted a better life for my daughter. I didn’t want to raise her in New York City or Los Angeles. My brother was here with three kids. I’m like the ladies in Ladies Who Launch. I made a lifestyle choice to pick up and come here not knowing anyone.

We succeeded because of our relationships with our clients. Larry’s had some clients for 15 years. We had a lot of referral business. We also have a diverse group we work with, all the way from auto dealers to aesthetic medical and everything in between. We have a furniture client. We’re doing something for a financial company right now. We did a gubernatorial campaign this year. We’re just not in Nashville either. Our clients are all over the country.

You’ve mentioned your daughter. How have you achieved a work-life balance as a single mom?

Being a mommy-preneur, you mean? You want to be mom, but you also have to put food on the table. I realize now how being a mom has helped me in entrepreneurship. It’s taught me about being a multi-tasker, about the art of negotiation and about work ethic.

There’s an appreciation as well for your employees and knowing they have a life outside of the four walls of the office. It gives you an understanding they can be more productive at work if they are given a break on some things. I definitely think that compassion has come from being a mom. I would be a totally different person in life and business. I wouldn’t even be in this city if I weren’t a mom.

Tags: Dreams, Griggs, Helps, Into, Sheilah, Success, Turn, Women

Obamas Plan To Put Single Working Mothers Back Into The Classroom

It’s hard to be a working single mom today. There are bills to pay, gas for the car, clothes for the kids and food that seems to disappear. Everyone is having a hard time in this tough economy, but anyone who is a single mom knows how hard it is to make ends meet.

Going to college seems like an impossible dream to most single moms. They have the desire, but can’t even imagine how it could work out for them.

Under the Obama administration, single moms are being given extra opportunity to get back to school and get the degree they have wanted and needed.

This is through scholarships and grants, more specifically Pell Grants. These grants have been increased to help moms even more. Obama really does want moms to go back to school. Fortunately, it’s not based on rather or not you are currently working or what your financial state is. You just apply and see what is available for you.

Not everyone is going to get one of these Pell Grants. However, there are many great alternative programs, grants, and scholarships for mothers who apply for them.

Do your research, study the Obama scholarship, and find what’s best for your situation. There are so many opportunities. Sign up for as many as you qualify for -nothing ventured, nothing gained. Take advantage of the great opportunities available to you today! If you already know its out there, then just take the little time to find the opportunities.

Tags: Back, Classroom, Into, Mothers, Obama's, Plan, Single, Working

Scholarships and Grants for Moms Determined to Get Back into School

If you are a mom and you desire to further your education, you are to be congratulated! There are so many great opportunities available to you today! It’s great to know that under the new Obama administration, this will not have to be a stressful or frustrating time in your life.

If you decide to try for a scholarship or two, make sure you pick ones that are specifically for mothers. You will find that they will be easier to get and also will enable you to take opportunity of the new options for moms.

You now have many things to consider, especially what your career goals are. Should you go after your life-long dream? Or have things changed and now you have different goals and objectives? Look over some of the courses you will need to take for various degrees and that may help you decide.

Another thing to consider is what you are already able to do. Are you good in math? Writing? Do you have good social skills? So many questions to think about! However, these skills may help you get into the classes and programs you want.

One thing that should also be considered is the balance between what you desire to do and how much money you want to make. For example, some careers are appealing and yet they are not paying much these days. This is why you must research and make some sound decisions.

The idea behind these new scholarships and grants is that moms will not have to worry about money while answering these questions. You will be able to spend time taking care of your family, enjoying your new classes, and increasing your self-confidence!

Get the money you need for college today: Scholarships for Moms.

Tags: Back, Determined, Grants, Into, Moms, Scholarships, School

Moving into a New Apartment has Tons of Great Advantages.

In US there are 18% people make the house hopping or moving through out the year. The statistics virtually do not suggest that how much of stress factors and the hassles are there inclusion of being the expensive means. As per the perfect moving is concern the spring is the best season for relocation to stay from the rain and humidity. Most of the people know that the moving is very stressful as if people have the grief to loose his beloved one or the people or she has been divorced from his or her spouse. Relocation cost is not surprisingly that much higher as you thought of this. It is worth getting the quote the first from a Florida moving companies
For swift and smoother moving with the Moving Companies there are some equilibrium factors to be kept an eye on.

1. Shopping Around- At least shop around for three moving companies. Moving house should send their details to five of the removable companies. Arrangements should be made to set a visit between the Miami moving company and the moving people to allow the person whether he is comfortable with the moving services proposed.

2. Licensed movers- The moving houses have to make sure that they have the licensed mover to furnish the moving stuff for them. The moving company has to make sure that it has been bound by the law of American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA). Unlicensed movers operate from outside of the law and provide with the little protection to the belongings of yours. The authorized moving company will ensure the right kind of moving and packing things. They will make sure that you have the right service at the right point of time.

3. Compare costs- Your moving costs will be calculated by one of two methods: For moves less than 35 miles OR entirely within the counties will be considered as local move. The cost determining factors are- amount of hours worked, liability of insurance, crews or the suppliers needed for the moving. It is strongly recommended to get the moving rate estimate before the move starts.

4. Packing- Most of the Florida moving companies provide with the free moving boxes for the packing the belongings adequately. The moving companies provide with the assorted sized boxes to pack the belongings up especially those are fragile. Many people will pack boxes mark their content and the room they belong on top of the books. Some people will use a notebook to prepare a list of the boxes packed and their content. The notebook may be used later to make the unpacking process easier. It is a great tool to use color coding. Buy color stickers and mark each room in a different color.

When the moving company will deliver the color coded boxes will be easier to recognize and placed in the right room. Many of the furniture purchased today are delivered disassembled and require some assembly. Many times it will mean that those items will have to be disassembling before the move. If you want you can prepare those items for shipping by disassembling those items before the moving company shows up. Make sure you place all disassembled items their parts (screws and other hardware) in a clearly marked box that will be easy to find.

Tags: Advantages, Apartment, Great, Into, Moving, Tons

Convert Denial Into Approval When Applying For Hamp Through Bank Of America

Your home is one of the most precious assets that you have. But what if, for one reason or another, you do not have enough funds to pay for your monthly mortgage anymore?

Fortunately, the federal government has initiated several programs and a lot of incentives for homeowners. The Home Affordable Modification Plan (HAMP), for example, is something that will allow you to qualify for a lower monthly payment through loan modification.

All you need to do is determine if you qualify for HAMP, submit an application with a loan servicer, ensure that your debt-to-income ration is at least 31% and undergo the income verification process and trial period.

Things to Remember when Applying for HAMP through Bank of America

Since the option to modify your loan through the HAMP program was introduced as part of President Barack Obama’s stimulus plan, a lot of homeowners lined up to take advantage of it. The problem is that if you are applying for the program through financial institutions like the Bank of America, there are a lot of instances when the application gets denied.

What if you’re already facing a foreclosure and your HAMP application through the Bank of America got denied? This is a scenario which is less-than-desirable – so in order to counteract the frustrations that you might feel during the process, here are a few things that you need to keep in mind:
1. Exercise a lot of patience during the application process.
Did you know that there are a lot of homeowners who applied for the HAMP loan modification program for two to more than five times? At one point or another, their reapplication got approved – although if you’re the impatient type, you may not reach this point as a result of being frustrated.

What’s important is to make sure that you are aware that it is possible to turn no into a yes – as long as you put your financial records in order to increase your chances of having HAMP approved the second, third, fourth or even fifth time around.

In relation to this, it would also help if you will treat the loan services with friendliness and patience – having the right attitude simply makes going through the process feel a lot better.

2. Make sure that all the necessary paperworks are in order.
One of the most common reasons why HAMP applications get denied in the first place is that applicants do not submit all the necessary paperwork. To increase your chances of getting approved, make sure to submit all the requirements needed for the income verification process.

3. Escalate your request from one level to another if you need to.
Again, as a result of the President Obama’s stimulus plan, financial institutions like the Bank of America got flooded with HAMP requests. So it is no wonder why a lot of applications end up getting denied. If this happens to you and you know that you qualify for the loan, don’t hesitate to escalate your request from one level to another. Make follow-up calls and learn about the loan application process inside out.

By keeping these tips in mind, you can go ahead and convert a denial into an approval when applying for a HAMP loan modification program through the Bank of America. There’s absolutely no sense in wasting all the months that you paid for your monthly mortgage to foreclosure, when there is something that you can do about it. Once the loan gets approved, you will have more borrower-friendly terms and find it easier to pay for your monthly mortgages.

Tags: America, Applying, Approval, Bank, Convert, Denial, Hamp, Into, Through

Garment Industrial Park in Zhengzhou Curved Beam Into the Development of the Fast Lane

Founded in 2006, Zhengzhou, curved beams apparel industrial park (“the curved beam Industrial Park”) is currently entering the fast lane: the next 3 to 5 years, it will become a new garment processing base in Zhengzhou, China clothing wholesaDe distribution center, and become the southern suburbs of Zhengzhou, a set of clothes trade, housing, light industry, research, logistics, culture, Expo, and finance as one of the central city. March 23, Zhengzhou, clothing Industrial Park Administrative Committee curved beam director Xiao Jia-xiang confidently introduced the outline development of the park.

Qu Liang Industrial Park into the Development of the Fast Lane

Qu Liang Industrial Park was established in October 2006, planned land 7.6 square kilometers, down 1,000 acres of land, now built more than 160,000 square meters, attracted 22 enterprises to enter garment factory. According to Xiao Jiaxiang introduction, the park has now grown from a little-known apparel industrial park and was promoted to provincial garment gathering area, and the Zhengzhou city government by leaps and bounds to become the focus of the development zone, Henan key construction projects. “Our goal is to create national parks play an apparel wholesale market, this year, we will have been completed on the basis of 160 thousand square meters, and then add 100,000 square meters.” Xiao Jia-xiang explained that currently a number of factors on the curved beam the development of industrial parks are very beneficial.

In transport, the curved beam Industrial Park is located in Zhengzhou, Shinan District, a new curved beam Mississauga Township, Xinzheng city of Zhengzhou City Guodian and junction of the Golden Triangle location, excellent location and convenient transportation for the curved beam Industrial Park Rapid development has provided favorable conditions for new business in Zhengzhou city, culture, finance, light industry and modern city center and laid a solid foundation. Shortage of workers and garment enterprises in the South, Zhengzhou City transformation to more than 300 rental production moved outside the small garment enterprises, on the curved beam industrial park development is also very beneficial.

Meticulous Care of Business on the Settled

“Henan garment industry chain has not sound enough. The reason is mainly lack of funds.” Xiao Jiaxiang of that bank lending has been Henan chronic problem can not be solved garment, apparel companies are not assets like mortgage loans, the banks can not provide loans to these enterprises.

In this regard, curved beam to the garment industrial park, opened the green light. It is understood that, as early as last year, Qu Liang Industrial Park has reached an agreement with Zhengzhou Bank took the initiative to own industry as settled in this area of the garment to provide loan guarantees to help the enterprises to expand.

In solving the problem of funds based on the curved beam industrial park also find ways to solve problems for the company settled. Xiao Jia-xiang, said, settled in curved beams industrial park businesses, buy land to build factories, to enjoy the lowest per mu.

Moved to the park for the clothing business, they are given a more meticulous care. “We moved to the park to the factory and the factory of skilled workers moving removal costs, all borne by the park. The settled within the first month, the park will renew and bespeak to 800 skilled workers and the cost of living.”

The Park Facilities is Improving

Xiao Jiaxiang said, then, the park still have to set up 500,000 square meters standard workshop and commercial and residential, then, the scale of the whole park should be further broadened, supporting industries will be richer.

Xiao Jia-xiang, said the park to provide uniform heating ironing clothes, reduce unnecessary investment, facilitate the expansion of production for enterprises, but also reduce pollution.

As we all know, the clothing company’s most troublesome is the shortage of skilled workers, to address enterprise development “shortcomings”, curved beams apparel industrial park set up a “garment technician training center.”

Next, the park will increase the hospital, multi-functional conference hall, bath center, Internet cafe, basketball courts, supermarkets, banks and other ancillary items, corporate business meetings to facilitate and enrich the leisure life of employees. At present, the park is stepping up contact with a number of logistics companies, a leading logistics network across the country soon formed.

In addition, leading to the overall planning of Zhengzhou University of curved beams Industrial Park Road, total length of 15 kilometers, and successfully completed this year is expected to lay the opening.

Tags: Beam, Curved, Development, Fast, Garment, Industrial, Into, Lane, Park, Zhengzhou

Waitrose Ploughs Profits Back Into African Farms

Waitrose is to plough 20% of all profits from the South African citrus fruit sold in its supermarkets back into farms where the food is grown.

The move – supported by the Pretoria government – is aimed at enriching the lives of South African farm workers and their dependents but also ensuring stability in the supply chain, the British company says.

Up to £250,000 is expected to be raised between now and September to establish school classrooms, health clinics and other projects to benefit the labourers and the local communities.

More than 80% of all grapefruits, lemons and clementines sold over the summer by Waitrose will come from 18 farms in South Africa under a variety of supply arrangements.

Gordon Fairbrother, head of buying for fruit and vegetables at Waitrose, said UK supermarket customers would not be paying any more for their produce but would know they were helping a fair trade initiative.

“This is a long-term commitment that will make a real difference to the lives of farm workers in South Africa. The skills, education and support offered will genuinely empower them and improve their lives,” he said.

South African agriculture, like the mining industry – is being encouraged by Thabo Mbeki’s government to transfer ownership into the hands of those previously disadvantaged under apartheid.

Critics have warned that the black empowerment initiative – if badly delivered – could damage the South African economy and leave it in a shattered state like neighbouring Zimbabwe.

The Vuki farm, one of those that supplies Waitrose, is already owned by a trust for the workforce and the British supermarket chain said it wanted to help with similar transfers of land to the black community.

“There is an excellent match between the aims of this scheme and our normal principles of ethical trading. The scheme makes sense commercially as it will help ensure the long-term supply of high qual ity South African citrus fruit,” Mr Fairbrother said.

A special Waitrose foundation has been set up as a not-for-profit organisation with the task of distributing the funds which will be provided by the supermarket group plus its importer Poupart and export agents.

The foundation will be administered by a board of trustees to which local growers and workers will submit proposals for new facilities to be built on their farms.

Mr Fairbrother believes that every farm worker financially supports around 20 others in his family and wider community and says it is hard for black empowerment to work properly unless levels of literacy are raised.

Tags: African, Back, Farms, Into, Ploughs, Profits, Waitrose