Brad's blog - day five
the Aguadas co-operative
Aguadas is high in the Andes and very remote. There is one road in and one road out – and as we have found out for ourselves, even that shouldn’t be taken for granted. However, the outlook is nothing short of spectacular, with coffee trees and tiny farmhouses dotted around the mountains as far as the eye can see.
The town itself centres on a plaza area overlooked by the imposing cathedral. Such a beautiful building that I can easily forgive the 15-minute bell ringing throughout the night, which has made sure we’ve not had a decent night’s sleep since we've been here.
At the co-operative office, I have my finger and hands looked at. Thankfully the swelling has subsided a little and after being bathing in alcohol the consensus is that it’s a bad reaction and I shouldn’t worry too much. Good advice I think, as we still have a lot left to do and see.
The community gathers in the town plaza; people seem happy just being together. There are some wonderful characters – many are coffee farmers, whose years of hard work are etched into their faces.
Other farmers soon start arriving at the Aguadas co-operative with their coffee. Many have come in the brightly coloured chivas – colourful buses with bench seats for passengers and a railed roof, reached by ladder, for carrying anything from livestock, to coffee bags, to people. Coffee is also brought by farmers in cars and on the backs of horses and donkeys; the farmers are keen to get their coffee here by whatever means necessary, as this is where it is sold. There is a real sense of community and trust, with each farmer helping the next. It's great to see real co-operation in action; the apparent chaos is obviously somehow highly organised. This is a family affair, with young sons here to help their fathers.
Watching the farmers waiting for their payments, I can't help but think that anything less than a Fairtrade price would be a travesty, after having seen just how hard they work and the conditions they endure. There is no rush to go home once the farmers have received their money. It seems that they are savouring the atmosphere just as much as I am. Many continue the tradition of spending the first pesos of their payment on having their well worn shoes and boots shined, while others appear happy just to be part of a very special co-operative.
From Aguadas, the coffee travels to Medellin for processing. As a stark reminder of how difficult a journey that can be, our final leg there takes well over seven hours. The weather is better today, but throughout the journey the results of the recent mudslides and landslides hamper our progress, and we are soon stopped in our tracks. Ironically, a fully laden road repair vehicle has tipped over and blocked the road. As the queues of traffic build on either side, it is down to a lone man with a shovel to dig a road around it. I can’t say that arriving back in Medellin isn’t a relief.
Although it felt like survival at times, our time in Aguadas was as enjoyable as it was fraught. We met some wonderful people and were welcomed wherever we went. We witnessed a real sense of community and trust. The remote farmers struggle on against the elements, uncomplaining and grateful for the support of the co-operative. Their yields may be down, but their spirits aren’t. This is a wonderful country, with wonderful people. But my abiding memory will always be just how Fairtrade is making a difference and how the farming community and even the school children recognise this. Thanks to our visit, the people now know that Fairtrade doesn’t happen by accident and that, here at The Co-operative and across the UK, there is a genuine commitment that is driving Fairtrade. They now know that they have people looking out for them and championing their cause.
Since Brad’s Visit to Colombia
The lives of Alba Nelly Gonzáles Castaño, Berta Lía Gómez Hernández, Rodrigo Cardona Sánchez and the children at Monterredondo School have all been improved thanks to the donations that The Co-operative made to the Aguadas Co-operative.
Since Brad’s visit to Colombia the needs of the local community were fully assessed and various projects were embarked upon. Alba Nelly Gonzáles Castaño has had an overhaul of her septic tank and her roof and ceiling reinforced.
Berta Lía Gómez Hernández and Rodrigo Cardona Sánchez, have had sheltered drying areas built for drying coffee.
As part of the projects Maria Dolores Ceballos has also received a new septic tank and had a kitchen built.
The necessary surveys were undertaken at Monterredondo School which thankfully revealed that the structure was sufficient to pose no immediate threat to health and safety subject to some construction. The school has remained open and a large amount of work has taken place thanks to the money received from the Co-operative. A wall with gabions has been built to protect the school and a new sanitation system has been installed alongside new drains. The ceiling has also been repaired and new walkways have been constructed. The children there have been able to continue their education which was threatened.