Empowering Communities in Assam

Our new Chai blend is a harmonious combination of second-flush black tea from selected gardens in Assam, enriched with natural ginger, cardamom, and cinnamon pieces. This blend is inspired by the traditional Masala Chai we've enjoyed in Kolkata and Assam, and we’ve worked hard to honour the origins of the tea and spices used.
  • 02/01/2025
  • 3 minutes
  • blubolt team
Empowering Communities in Assam

Why Did We Choose Assam?

As the home of our Assam Breakfast, Chai, Earl Grey and Assam Gold black teas, we know the rich soils of Assam produce some of the most distinctive and desirable teas in the world. Teas from Assam are rich and full-bodied and full of remarkable malt, honey and raisin flavour, these are teas that cannot be replicated anywhere else. Unfortunately, the industry demand for extremely low-priced commodity tea and unpredictable global weather events have put huge pressure on the region. The subsequent challenges faced by communities living and working amongst Assam tea estates have been well documented.

Group activity example.

Our commitment to Assam’s tea heritage means we have chosen to dedicate our social impact support there. When we approached The Ethical Tea Partnership, they introduced us to this pioneering project, which aligned well with our values and aspirations for the sustainability of this important tea region.

What’s the Purpose of the Project?

The goal of the Plantation Community Empowerment Project is to contribute to a thriving tea sector by improving overall well-being and encouraging active participation of living and working communities in Assam’s tea estates.

Interaction with children during school observation in Dikom Tea Estate.

How Does the Project Work?

The Plantation Community Empowerment Project works through the creation of Community Development Forums (CDFs). The forums provide a platform for successful engagement and problem-solving in collaboration with estate management.

The three-year programme aims to reach 100,000 people residing in 20 tea estates, focusing on women and youth. The target is 50% women and 30% youth representation in the Forums.

Group work on communication skills.

Following a successful pilot on 4 tea estates, the multi-stakeholder programme is now running on 20 tea estates across Assam.

One Year of Impact: What’s Happened?

The First Garden Management Colloquium (or seminar):

Attended by funding partners, producer companies, tea estate management, pilot garden Community Development Forums, and the Ethical Tea Partnership.

Orientation of Garden Workers:

Participating tea estates hosted worker orientation sessions, with women comprising 45% of attendees. Attendees included representatives from estate management, health practitioners,unions, student bodies, teachers, social health activists, local government, village defence personnel, the Indian Tea Association, The Ethical Tea Partnership, and more.

Recruitment of 20 Community Mobilisers:

All are hired from within the workers’ community, with 60% female representation. All roles are paid and started with a four-day offsite onboarding programme.

Community mobilisers went back to their gardens to begin their fieldwork. 728 community mobilisation sessions took place across 20 tea estates, with participation from 13,118 community members, 67% of whom were women.

Landscape Study Launched:

Qualitative insight studies, facilitated by The Ethical Tea Partnership, will involve participatory learning and sharing for community members to identify the issues, underlying causes, and possible collective responses. Findings will inform the project's baseline and development of the Estate Development Plan (EDF). Stakeholders include children, adolescents, the elderly, transgender people, and persons with disabilities, as well as permanent and seasonal workers.

 

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