An Englishman, an Irishman, a Welshman, and Five Latinos – written by Nora SG
An Englishman, an Irishman, a Welshman and five Latinos were the perfect recipe for a cocktail of unparalleled adventures. The journey began when the team headed to Geneva airport. People glanced curiously, wondering where the winds were taking this team of explorers. Obviously, we dressed for the occasion in fashionable expedition shoes and light rucksacks with nothing but extra protective SPF 50 sunscreen, mosquito repellent, and an extra pair of socks. Indeed, we were overprepared for things like the additional Vitamin B (makes your blood stinky for mosquitos), but none of us was prepared for the journey that was about to come. We flew across the Mediterranean from the cold Alps to the tropical lands of Nairobi, Kenya. But the long journey was not over yet. Little did we know that to get to Nanyuki, our transport was this funny-looking mosquito sized plane. The mighty mosquito fluttered with determination and hovered us over the beautiful scenery, landing us safely in our base camp.
In the mornings, we started by feasting ambrosial breakfasts, rich in local fruits and traditional bread, in the company of Mount Kenya to begin our daily odysseys. We had the honor to meet some of the most hardworking, joyous women I have encountered. The sun shone relentlessly upon us as we carried heavy sacs and mixed the dirt with a bit of spiced compost mysteriously. However, the hard work became lighter as the laughter grew, and we engaged in the utmost enriching cultural exchange. We sang classic Mexican songs with our "angelic coordinated" voices; we spoke Swahili (or at least we tried). The women sang their traditional rhythmic songs beautifully as we prepared them the coffee they grew for them to try for the first time. For me, these women are not only praiseworthy for their determination, but they are also the epitome of empowerment. They speak to a broader issue that tackles the role of women in a patriarchal society. The days weren't getting any less sunny; unexpectedly, the three Europeans survived the sun's merciless attacks whilst us overconfident Latinas suffered from a burnt scalp. As we submerged ourselves deeper in this culture, we visited a school with a sustainable system that kept the children motivated and solar-powered infrastructure. This was when the exploring began molding into research and projects that would allow us to maintain a long-term relationship with this school.
Our trip then shifted focus. We, explorers, like to get a little thrill from time to time and sometimes this thrill comes from sleeping on sight. Our incredible mama-van was a cozy place to sleep to some, and to others was the perfect opportunity to capture legendary memes. With the mama-van, we entered a surreal world. We shrank as we came meters away from fantastic creatures. Sometimes, we came too close to the point that we got ambushed and chased by a family of angry elephants. But other times, we got close enough to witness a leopard and a National Geographic live scene where lion cubs tried to hunt a buffalo; lucky day for the buffalo, but no dinner for the cubs.
It is difficult summarizing all the experiences because every day was a highlight. However, as we got to explore this new world, the team of explorers has pinpointed some initiatives to bring back to Beau Soleil. On the one hand, our relationship with the school has given us the momentum to ideate a range of projects to support and advocate for education. On the other hand, we went through a day of lots of sweat and burnt scalps to learn about the hard work that goes into producing only a few coffee beans. When enjoying a lovely cappuccino or a flavorful expresso, we usually don't think about all the hard work behind that coffee cup. Our company is about tracking the work back to the first production, to the farmers and ensuring transparency so that every farmer gets their fair share.