2013 Annual Report - Blue Skies · Blue Skies Foundation Annual Report 2013 2 ... new Ventures; Results-based ... previously worked for Kraft Foods, Cadbury and the Co-operative

2013 Annual Report

Blue Skies Foundation Annual Report 2013 2

CONTENTS

Introduction………………………….. ….. 03

Structure…….…………………………… 04

Board of Directors……………………….. 05

Staff……..……………………….………… 06

Project overview………………………… 07

Ghana Projects……………….………….. 08

South Africa Projects……………………. 12

Other Projects……………………………. 13

Past projects revisited………………….. 14


A LETTER FROM THE BOARD

We have now completed twenty four projects since the Foundation was

started in 2009. This year we completed five projects in Ghana and South

Africa including two more KVIP toilet systems, a water system, a new

classroom block and a playground. We also carried out a number of smaller

projects including providing more solar lighting systems for communities and

facilitating the donation of learning materials for schools.

In addition to our usual projects, in 2013 we launched the ‘Get Inspired’

campaign aimed at inspiring the next generation of Ghanaians to be the

change they want to see in the world. The campaign aims to work with schools

to encourage entrepreneurship in response to diminishing interest among the

young in agriculture and industry. The campaign is expected to play an

increasingly important part in the Foundation as it looks to address the needs

of the future.

This year we also welcomed Abena Asomaning-Antwi to the Board of

Directors. Abena joins the Foundation with a wealth of experience in a variety

of sectors including management consultancy and customer care. She also

runs a Ghanaian Non-Profit Organization called the Angel Zoe Foundation

which aims to assist in the rehabilitation, reformation and reintegration of

women in prison and to render support to vulnerable children.

Once again we must say a huge thank you to everyone who has given their

time, energy, money and commitment to the Blue Skies Foundation.

The Board of Directors

The objective of the Foundation is to strengthen the

trading relations within the supply chain so as to

increase the benefit we are able to bring to the

communities where we operate. We aim to achieve this

not only by funding more projects but also by continuing

to trade ethically so that we can provide employment

and stimulate sustainable economic growth.


STRUCTURE

The Foundation is structured in such a way that enables projects to be

identified by the communities themselves. Projects are proposed by the

communities based on their needs. Each of six geographical zones

(representing areas where Blue Skies sources its fruit) has an elected member

on the Foundation council – usually a Blue Skies farmer. The communities

present and discuss their proposals in front of the Foundation council, which

will then submit their recommendation to the Foundation board. Projects have

to show a clear management and maintenance strategy by the communities.

Projects are evaluated after completion and again after one or five years

depending on the outcome of the evaluation. The Foundation manager at Blue

Skies supports and overviews the implementation and visits each project

regularly. Projects are owned by the communities.

Funding Parties

Waitrose is a UK Supermarket Company which is part

of the John Lewis Partnership. The company has 197

stores and focuses on selling high quality food and

offering exceptional customer service.

Albert Heijn is Dutch Supermarket Company and has

750 stores in the Netherlands. Like Waitrose, Albert

Heijn also focuses on selling quality food and offering

a high level of customer service.

Blue Skies is a fresh-cut fruit company with factories

in Ghana, South Africa, Egypt and Brazil. The company

prepares fruit at its factories which it sells to shops in

Europe, South Africa and Brazil, including Waitrose

and Albert Heijn.

Advisors ICCO are an independent advisory body who provide

advice on projects on behalf of the Albert Heijn

Foundation. ICCO offer advice on the development of

project applications as well as project

implementation, monitoring, evaluation and impact

assessment.


BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Abena Asomaning-Antwi Foundation Advisory Director

Abena is a Management Consultant with multi-faceted experience

gained from years of working in different disciplines and sectors.

Her areas of expertise include Identification and Composition of

new Ventures; Results-based Strategic Management and Planning,

Effective Networking and Customer Care. Abena is also Founder &

Executive Director of Angel Zoe Foundation, a Ghanaian Non-Profit

Organization which aims to assist in the rehabilitation, reformation

and reintegration of women in prison and to render support to

vulnerable children.

David Croft Foundation Director, Waitrose

David Croft is Director of Food Technology at Waitrose. David

previously worked for Kraft Foods, Cadbury and the Co-operative

Group, where his senior roles included leading technical and

marketing activity, and tackling a diverse agenda across food safety

& quality, health & safety, environmental management, ethical

trading and sustainability. David is currently a member of the Food

Ethics Council and the Environmental Knowledge Transfer Board,

and has served as a director of the Ethical Trading Initiative and as a

council member at the Campden & Chorleywood Food Research

Association.

Anthony Pile Foundation Director, Blue Skies

Anthony Pile is the Founder and Chairman of Blue Skies, which he

setup in 1997. He was a soldier in the British Army for 13 years and

saw active service in the Middle East, Northern Ireland and Cyprus.

He has been a magistrate, attended the post graduate Sloan

Fellowship Programme at the London Business School and was the

Managing Director of Orchard House Foods. In 2011 Anthony

received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Cranfield in

recognition of his achievements with Blue Skies.

Henri Zondag Foundation Director, Albert Heijn

Henri is a graduate from Nijenrode Business University in the

Netherlands. After active military service as an Infantry Officer in

the Dutch Army, he joined Procter & Gamble in 1982 where he

spent much of his career in customer development, marketing,

organizational development and general management. In 2007, he

was invited by Ahold to become involved in the development of

their Sustainable Business Development model. Henri currently

oversees community development projects in cooperation with

several African suppliers in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Mali

and Ghana.


FOUNDATION STAFF

Simon Derrick Blue Skies Foundation Coordinator

Simon joined Blue Skies in 2005. He looks after the company’s

brand and communications and has taken a lead role in advancing

the Joint Effort Enterprise model which Blue Skies has become

recognised for. He has a Masters in Sustainable Development and

has previously worked for the BBC and for a market research

agency as a data analyst and systems developer.

Alistair Djimtey Blue Skies Foundation Manager

Alistair Derby Djimatey joined Blues Skies in 2002 as a quality

Assurance Officer. He progressed to the position of Audit Controller

in charge of ensuring compliance with BRC, GlobalGAP and organic

standards. He was also responsible for internal auditing of the

quality management system and training of newly employed staff as

well as refresher training for regular staff. Alistair has high affinity

for community service and advocacy. He was the chairman of the

local Union for over two years.

Waydu Matlala Blue Skies Foundation Officer, South Africa

Waydu Matlala was born in Siyathemba and is married with two

daughters. She is a graduate from graduated from Vanderbiljpack

Collage. Waydu joined Blue Skies in 2004 and was elected as

Welfare chairperson. She was appointed as a Quality Assurance

Officer in 2005 and was later made a team leader. Waydu enjoys

working closely with people and devoting time and effort where her

help is needed. In 2006 Waydu was promoted to the position of

Human Resource Manager and currently remains employed in this

capacity. She took on the additional responsibility as Foundation

Officer in 2009.


2013 PROJECT OVERVIEW

This project involved the construction of a 6-seater compost toilet called a KVIP (Kumasi Ventilated Improved Pit) for Yaw Krow in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Yaw Krow is home to over 200 people and is close to some papaya and pineapple farms. The community previously had no public toilet and had experienced outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera.

The objective of this project was to construct a three classroom block for a primary school in Dobro near to the town of Nsawam in Ghana. The school has over 200 students who were previously accommodated in overcrowded and poorly lit classrooms. Students are now using the new fully furnished facility which includes a staff common room.

This project provided two boreholes with hand pumps for a papaya farming community in Ghana. The community and the surrounding areas previously relied on a stream several miles away for water, and a well which often dried up. The provision of boreholes has ensured clean drinkable water is continuously available to inhabitants of the community.

This project involved the construction of a 12 seater KVIP for the village of Nsakye in Ghana which is near to where many of our pineapple growers are located. Like many rural villages in Ghana, Nsakye previously had limited toilet facilities thereby increasing the risk of outbreaks of diseases such as cholera and diarrhea. This KVIP is therefore intended to reduce this risk and improve health within the community.

Projects completed in South Africa in 2013 include a new playground for a primary school near to the community of Greylingstad, and equipment including furniture, toys and computer harware for Bright Sparks Learning Academy in the town of Grootvlei.

Other projects completed in 2013 include the provision of sports kits for the netball and football teams at Blue Skies South Africa, facilitating donations of learning materials including pens, books and computers for schools in Ghana, and the launch of the ‘Get Inspired’ campaign to inspire the next generation to be the change they want to see in the world.


GHANA PROJECTS

This project is to construct a 6 seater KVIP for

the village of Yawkrow in the Akuapim South

District of the Eastern Region of Ghana.

Yawkrow is small farming community of

about 200 people which has never had a

public place of convenience, and has

suffered from outbreaks of cholera in recent

years. The community hosts two of the Blue Skies Farmers who supply Papaya

and Pineapple. Most people in this community work for these farmers during

the season. The provision of this facility will promote good hygiene, minimize

contamination, and reduce communicable disease.

Above: The KVIP at the village of Yaw Krow

Project Evaluation Score

Physical condition GOOD

Working Maintenance Plan YES

Overall Status GOOD

No incidents of cholera or

other water borne diseases

have been reported since this project was completed.


GHANA PROJECTS

This project is to provide a three classroom

block for Dobro Primary School near to

Nsawam in Ghana. The school is located near

to the Blue Skies factory and is situated within

a village of 3500 people where many Blue

Skies staff and some suppliers live.

The school had previously suffered from

overcrowding and the bad condition of the

classrooms meant that pupils had to squeeze into a single room during

adverse weather. The new school block has brightened up the learning

environment of the school and created a safer place for the students to learn.

Above: Interior and exterior scenes of the new classroom block at Dobro

Primary School




Overall Status GOOD

This project has led to a 70%

increase in attendance by

students and 90% increase in

attendance by teachers,

Ennrolment has increased from 145 to 250.


GHANA PROJECTS

Krabokesse is a community surrounded by several villages in the Suhum

Krabo Coaltar district of the Eastern Region of Ghana. The Community has a

population of about 500 people mainly farmers of Papaya. The community and

the surrounding areas had been depending on a local stream and a well for

their supply of water. At times the well has dried up so people have had to

travel miles to other communities to get water for household activities. This

has affected economic and social activities of the area especially with children

not going to school. The water condition has also affected the health of the

people since occasionally water borne disease are reported in the village as a

result of bad sources of water being used

by the inhabitants of the community.

The provision of two boreholes for this

community has therefore ensured clean

drinkable water is continuously available

to inhabitants of the community. This has

enhanced their ability to increase productivity and improved academic

performance as no incidents of water borne diseases have been reported

since the project was completed.

Above: One of the new boreholes at Krabokesse and (inset) the well from

where community members previously fetched water.




Overall Status GOOD

90% of the community are

using the new water system.

The local school has also seen

a 40% increase in contact time

and improved academic performance.


GHANA PROJECTS

This project was to construct a 12 seater KVIP for the village of Nsakye, a

pineapple farming community in Ghana. Nsakye is the Royal Seat for the

Akuapim South Municipality. The village has a population of about 1600

people and is the community from where all Chiefs on the Aburi throne

originate. The facility has enhanced the health of the whole community.

KVIP stands for ‘Kumasi Ventilated

Improved Pit’ and is a pit latrine

commonly used in Ghana usually

constructed with hand-washing

stations that collect rain water. This

type of latrine is designed to control

odour and the presence of houseflies.

Above: The Nsakye 12-seater KVIP




Overall Status GOOD

No incidents of cholera or

other water borne diseases

have been reported since this

project was completed.

Education on communicable

diseases in the community has improved knowledge by 60%.


S OUTH AFRICA PROJECTS

This is a project to provide ‘jungle gym’

playground equipment for a rural primary

school in South Africa. The project includes

swings, a slide, a sand pit and climbing ropes.

The photo below shows some of the pupils using

the equipment for the first time.




Overall Status GOOD

This is a project to provide IT equipment, toys

and furniture for a Crèche belonging to a

school in South Africa. The project intended to

closer integrate the crèche with the school by

improving quality of care and education of the

children. The photocopier has enabled the

crèche to circulate more worksheets and

improve administration, the toys have helped

to provide stimulation and engagement for the children and the furniture has

helped the crèche to provide snacks and meals more efficiently. As a result of

the project the number of learners at Bright Sparks has doubled from 30 to just

over 60 people




Overall Status GOOD

In 2013 the Foundation Board approved a project to strengthen the Foundation

Committee in South Africa. The Foundation Committee oversees the selection

and management of Foundation projects on an annual basis. The Capacity

Building Programme is intended to provide training for committee members

to more efficiently identity and implement projects. Whilst this project was

agreed in 2013 it is scheduled to take place at some point in 2014.


OTHER PROJECTS

Among some of the smaller initiatives we

have supported include providing sports

kits for the Blue Skies South Africa netball

and soccer teams, and launching a

campaign with schools in Ghana to inspire

the next generation of social

entrepreneurs.

The ‘Get Inspired’ campaign was

launched in October with 200 pupils from

10 schools. Called ‘Get Inspired, Be the Change’ the campaign provided a

new activity book for schools to make young students more aware of the

challenges facing our planet, and inspire them to play a part in creating a

brighter future for the world. You can find out more about our Get Inspired

campaign at www.blueskies.com/inspired As in previous years we also worked with a number of other organizations

including the UK charity ‘Pens for Kids’, Blue Skies UK and Harlestone and

Brington Primary Schools to facilitate the donation of learning resources such

as computers, stationary and textbooks to schools in Ghana and South Africa.

SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP

We continue to work in partnership with a limited number of schools in the UK

by supporting class room activities designed to raise awareness of the

Foundation and provide an insight on the people, culture and history of the

countries where Blue Skies sources its fruit.

Schools have also supported the Foundation by donating learning materials

including computers and stationary to schools in Ghana. Some of these

schools are shown below.

http://www.blueskies.com/inspired


PAST PROJECTS REVISITED

Completed: 2012. Location: Nsawam, Ghana Details: Construction of public toilet block for village in papaya growing area

Completed: 2012. Location: Nsawam, Ghana Details: Construction of public WC for a town in Ghana

Completed: 2012. Location: Balfour, South Africa Details: Renovation of WC blocks for primary school in South Africa

Completed: 2012. Location: Balfour, South Africa Details: Renovation of WC blocks for primary school in South Africa

Completed: 2012. Location: Balfour, South Africa Details: Provision of computer equipment for I M Manchu Secondary School

Completed: 2011. Location: Abortia, Ghana Details: New classroom block construction for Primary School

Completed: 2011. Location: Nsawam, Ghana Details: New multi-use games area for Blue Skies and surrounding community

Completed: 2011. Location: Nsawam, Ghana Details: Renovation of medical training centre for a clinic

Completed: 2011. Location: Balfour, South Africa Details: Provision of computer equipment for I M Manchu Secondary School

Completed: 2011. Location: Greylingstad, South Africa Details: Provision of perimeter fence for Tegwan’s Nest Primary School

Completed: 2011. Location: Greylingstad, South Africa Details: Provision of computers for an orphanage


PAST PROJECTS REVISITED

Completed: 2010. Location: Sekykrom, Ghana Details: Renovation of a Kindergarten and construction of a WC and Kitchen

Completed: 2010. Location: Fotobi, Ghana Details: New classroom block construction for Fotobi Junior High School

Completed: 2010. Location: Amanfrom, Ghana Details: Construction of compost toilet system for Amanfrom village

Completed: 2010. Location: Akraman, Ghana Details: Renovation of classroom block for Akraman Primary School

Completed: 2010. Location: Canaan Farm, Ghana Details: Provision of corn mill and construction of service centre for Canaan Farms

Completed: 2011. Location: Ekumfi Abor and Ekumfi Nanabin, Ghana Details: Mechanized water system for Abor and borehole and hand pump for Nanabin

LOOKING AHEAD

2014 looks set to be another busy year for the Foundation with eleven projects

already approved – the most number we have embarked on in a year!

The projects include teachers accommodation for a pineapple farming

community, a classroom block for a school in the mango growing area,

boreholes for coconut and papaya growing villages, three public toilets for

communities in mango and pineapple growing areas and a water collection

and storage system for a school. All projects are expected to be completed by

August 2014.

In addition we are planning to take our Get Inspired campaign further by

introducing a school farm competition in Ghana. As fewer young people go in

to farming we are looking to reverse this trend by encouraging students to

think about how a farm for their school can be setup and maintained and run

as a viable business.


The Blue Sky Foundation PO Box C 3506, Accra, Ghana

www.blueskies.com/foundation

Documents

2013 Annual Report - Blue Skies · Blue Skies Foundation Annual Report 2013 2 ... new Ventures; Results-based ... previously worked for Kraft Foods, Cadbury and the Co-operative