Mar
18
Kenya trip Interview
Posted at 10:40 in Customer News : Mars Team news
Ursula Wong, R&D (Ingredients Technologist)
What was your reason for applying?
I am always exploring new opportunities to broaden my horizons, meet new people and learn more. But in particular, I was interested in understanding how the coffee farmers perceive and interact with our Brighter Tomorrow programme.
What is the most impactful memory from your trip?
It was seeing first hand how the money donated through the Brighter Tomorrow programme was actually impacting the cooperative and understanding the power of the Rainforest Alliance as more than just a marketing tool.
What was the most surprising thing that you discovered on the trip?
One of the most inspiring aspects of the trip was to see how our everyday job back in Basingstoke contributes to aiding the cooperative and its surrounding community. By us simply doing our jobs and selling more Kenya coffee, these farmers can develop and grow their business, allowing their families’ standard of living to rise.
What are the main benefits to local farmers and their families?
What I like about the support Mars Drinks is giving to the cooperative is that there is a focus on both immediate aid and long-term development. Just by walking around several farms the difference between a Mars Drinks supported community versus a traditionally run farm was stark. Our support has allowed for the introduction of occupational health and safety, which we take as a given back home.
Would you recommend anyone else to do a similar trip?
Absolutely! The trip was educational on so many levels. The pure learning about the coffee supply chain is essential for a coffee company in order to really excel, but the experience of seeing life through someone else’s eyes is very refreshing. I have been on holiday before where you are confronted by poverty, but to have a local person welcome you into his life and show you his everyday routine is far removed from being a tourist with a curious mind.
