HEART STORY
Akello
Akello* is 73 years old and has been a coffee farmer since he was a young boy. He believes the local PEAS High School, built in 2012 with the help of the Costa Foundation, goes far beyond providing safe and accessible education by supporting local farmers, creating additional jobs and lifting the community's spirits.
Previously, children would have to walk as far as 10 kilometres each way to get to school. With the school now nearby, it makes it much easier for them to stay in education, setting them up for a brighter future.
The school supports local farmers like Akello by buying their produce. Farmers in these communities would usually travel long distances to be offered low rates for their food, but the school enables them to sell their crops locally for fair prices.
The school also hires a number of workers (not just teachers) from within the community. The increase in income enables families to send their children to school, which in turn sets them up for higher future earnings. A great example is Akello’s son who, having attended the school as a student, is now employed as a groundsman.
The Costa Foundation goes beyond simply building schools – we support the wider community for the long-term benefit of the area.
*Names have been changed to protect identities.
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The school employs a number of local workers which means individuals are able to provide for themselves and their families better.