WOMEN

HEALTH & WELLBEING

designed for people with serious ailments who couldn’t afford to pay for treatment.

Since then, 155 people have accessed the fund for life-changing treatments and 28 people have benefited from the health fund in the last year.

The first year of existence of the health fund saw a large number of hernia operations. Hernias are common because of the physical work involved for many of the people in the communities. This fund enabled people to access care to have this simple surgery meaning their lives and livelihoods could be protected.

Infrastructure

In 2022, the construction of 1 new school in Segbwema village was completed. Previously, children had to walk on a 12 mile round-trip through rainforest, over narrow tracks and across dangerous bridges over the fast flowing river to access their education. The significance of a colourful school right on their doorstep will impact lives for years to come, and is made even better with 3 new classrooms, and office and toilets.

Construction of 2 new bridges has also been completed in the last year, connecting Segbwema to the other communities through the rainy season.

The communities also now have tools for road building and maintenance, both of which are essential to promote trade.

Sustainability

The Tiwai community is located in one of the last natural stretches of the great West African rainforest : The Gola Rainforest. This dense tropical habitat used to stretch for miles across multiple countries, but due to civil wars and deforestation has shrunk dramatically over the last decades.

The communities fiercely protect their natural environment and it’s inhabitants. From pgymy hippos, 11 species of primates, birds, vast numbers of trees and plants, the Karma Foundation helps support the teams in sustainably caring for this precious corner of our planet.

WOMAN PROCESSING PALM KERNELS INTO ARTESENAL PALM OIL FOR LOCAL SALE AND CONSUMPTION, LARGELY USED FOR COOKING IN SIERRA LEONE.

IN THE COMMUNITIES, PALM OIL IS NOT MASS-FARMED BUT IS A PART OF LOCAL LIFE AND HAS BEEN AROUND FOR MANY YEARS.

GOVERNANCE & ACCESSIBILITY

The Karma Foundation works with local people and our team on the ground to deliver a variety of training for villagers, from Gender Equality and Social Inclusion, to Good Governance, Citizens Voice and Action, Business Management and Community Mobilisation.

Learning these skills helps the villagers manage resources, negotiate, to do business and monitor the Karma funds. For example, after receiving training from Karma, a local woman was able to set up funding and start her own business. There are low levels of literacy in the village, but this doesn’t hinder the training as it’s delivered in an accessible way. This is all part of setting people up for success, and working in a long term and sustainable way with the communities.

The local team is made up of five people (two full time and three part time). They ensure projects are being well implemented and managed, and that the communities are well involved and informed. The chairman, Albert Tucker, oversees the whole Karma Foundation and has been a vital figure for both Karma Drinks, and the communities, for the last ten years.