In the heart of Murang’a County, Kenya, thousands of young hopes were once dimmed by financial hardship. Today, thanks to a dedicated bursary programme supported by the Fairtrade Africa Premium and the Nduti Tea Factory, those hopes are gaining light. In early 2025, the factory awarded KES 6 million in bursaries to students from its catchment area.
The backdrop: Many families farming around Nduti face crops with shifting returns, and school fees that threaten to pull children away from classrooms. Recognising that pure economic empowerment is only part of the path, Nduti invested in education — the foundation for long-term change.
One by one, young people from the tea-growing region found doors opening. With the funds, they could attend secondary school, stay in classes instead of dropping out, and dream of more than picking leaves. At a ceremony led by the factory’s board chairperson, beneficiaries were urged to make the most of their opportunity: “Education is the key to unlocking your potential and shaping a brighter future.”
This is more than bursaries. It’s a ripple through families: better educated children, households that can plan ahead, communities that are more resilient. For Nduti, it signals that the factory’s role isn’t only processing tea — it’s processing possibilities. In the years ahead, as these students move into higher education or employment, the impact will return to the farms, homes and future generations.