Safi Coffee Project Recognised by Pearson National Teaching Awards

Felsted's fundraising efforts through the Safi Coffee Project have been recognised with a certificate from Pearson National Teaching Awards.

Each year, the Teaching Awards recognise and celebrate excellence in education across the country. This year, a new category was added to the prestigious awards - Impact through Partnership - to commend schools or trusts that have made a wider impact beyond their own school community. Safi Coffee is a special pupil-led initiative that imports Ugandan coffee to sell across the UK, in partnership with Hull Collegiate School and Highgate School, through links with Teach Uganda, one of Felsted’s core charities.

The Safi Coffee Project raises vital funds to help change lives in the Kanungu region, aiming to break the cycle of poverty for many young people. Since its launch in 2015, the project has gone from strength to strength with turnover reaching £30,000 per annum, helping to fund the education of 45 pupils in Kanungu. Felstedians visit Uganda every two years, teaching in schools, helping to build facilities and working in the community where they tend to their coffee plantation.

Reverend Nigel Little, Chaplain at Felsted School and Trustee of Kirima Ltd, comments: “As a Trustee of Teach Uganda, I am delighted that Felsted School is promoting and distributing Safi Coffee amongst its community. As a result, we can ensure that the funds raised from our sales are sent directly back to help the children of Uganda.” 

It is important to Felsted pupils to make sure the project is environmentally friendly and they have been working hard alongside pupils from Hull Collegiate School, the project’s original founders, on new ideas to make it as sustainable as possible. The Felsted Environment & Service Group have been supporting this initiative, alongside International Baccalaureate Diploma students who are involved as part of their enterprise project.

After plans to redesign the Felsted Coffee Shop and officially launch Safi in April were delayed due to Covid-19, pupils and staff have kept the momentum going with opportunities to buy online for delivery during lockdown and Safi care packages have been delivered to local carehomes and the elderley residents in the Felsted Almshouses.