"We don't give because we have plenty, but because we understand that even the smallest effort can make a lasting difference."
Life on coffee farms presents unique hardships and requires resilience, especially for families. For smallholder farmers, the income from coffee is often meager—barely enough to cover basic needs, with an average monthly income that falls below a modest food budget. Over 60% of these families travel from farm to farm, following the harvests, enduring long hours and hard labor to make a living.
For these families, work and family life blend. Children are companions at dinner and join their parents at work, learning by example. These young ones don't just study in classrooms; they watch and absorb life lessons from their families, learning how to treat others, live responsibly, and carry forward the coffee-growing tradition. These farmers and their families may not have plenty, but they bring joy to countless cups of coffee worldwide.
Driving Real Impact in Coffee Communities
The ongoing waves in coffee culture have sparked a shift: more consumers are seeking ways to support the communities responsible for their coffee.
At Solai Coffee, we source our beans directly from these resilient farmers. Every year, we embark on farm tours to better understand their lives and needs. This year, a different purpose drove our visit. Nyakinyua Primary School. We knew the school faced significant challenges, from resource shortages to infrastructure gaps, and we felt a responsibility to help.
A Legacy of Resilience
Let me take you back to 2018. On the night of May 9, a private dam burst, sending millions of gallons of water rushing through the fields, wiping out homes, and claiming lives in this small coffee-growing community in Solai. This tragic event altered lives forever. The flood devastated a coffee community school, Nyakinyua Primary, which had been founded a decade earlier by local coffee farmers who wanted a school close to home for their children.
Despite the tragedy, the spirit of Nyakinyua Primary School remained unbroken. This school, born out of the collective determination of coffee farmers, continued to thrive. Against all odds, it remained a beacon of hope for a community that refused to be defeated.
School students and teachers gathered for a photo with the Solai Coffee team. The open area with a dirt path marks where floodwaters once swept through, leaving a single building standing in the background as a reminder of the devastating flood that hit the area.
So, on October 24, 2024, our team from Solai Coffee journeyed through the Great Rift Valley, carrying with us the generous contributions from our community and a shared hope for change. What began as an ambitious goal turned into a day filled with smiles, tears of joy, and an impact that will reverberate through the community for years.
Your Generosity in Numbers
We called upon our community, and the response was overwhelming. Through your coffee purchases, which contributed 10% toward the cause, additional donations, and the widespread sharing of our story, we reached remarkable milestones:
Initial Project Goal: | $3,167.02 |
Total Funds Raised: | $2,941.53 |
Impact: | 103% of our target achieved! |
Special Thanks to Acts of Wisdom
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all of you, our community, for your unwavering support. Whether through coffee purchases, additional donations, or simply sharing our story, your generosity has made a significant difference.
We also want to express our special thanks to Acts of Wisdom, our largest donor, whose considerable contribution made much of this initiative possible. Their partnership and commitment to this cause reflect the values driving us at Solai Coffee—community, generosity, and impact.
Acts of Wisdom partnership with Solai Coffee
Your Support in Action: What We Accomplished
We are proud to share some of the meaningful resources we were able to bring to Nyakinyua Primary School:
Technology for Learning
- A laptop, two desktops, printers, and a projector.
Health & Dignity Initiative
- Donated more than 1,200 pairs of underwear for boys and girls.
- Supplied over 3,000 sanitary pads, helping girls stay in school.
Essential Educational Materials
- Pens and pencils for every student.
- Rewarded 27 top-performing students from grades 1–9 with brand-new backpacks.
- Staff diaries and pens to assist with better organization.
As we handed out these supplies, it was truly humbling to see the joy and gratitude on the faces of the students and staff. Your support has not only provided these resources but also instilled a sense of hope and possibility in these young minds.
School's head teacher shared,
"When Solai Coffee and their partners arrived, it was like a ray of hope shining through the darkness. Their generosity has not only provided us with essential resources but has also reignited the dreams of our students." Mr. Kinyanjui
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Images capturing a memorable visit by the Solai Coffee team to a local school, featuring moments of connection, gift-giving, speeches, and a tour led by the deputy headteacher. Highlights include students and teachers receiving gifts, students entertaining guests, and glimpses of the resilient school kitchen—the only building left standing after a devastating flood.
Ground Reality and the Path Forward
Our visit to the school began with a tour led by the Deputy Headteacher, Jennifer, who shared the daily struggles faced by staff and students. This experience highlighted some immediate needs:
Special Needs Support
Two remarkable students stood out during our visit, symbolizing resilience.
Sharom Njoki, a sixth-grader born deaf and unable to speak, attends a regular school where she cannot receive the specialized support she needs. According to her teachers, her primary benefit at the school is social interaction, as her family cannot afford to send her to a specialized school that could provide the necessary support.
Jane Nduta, also in sixth grade, has albinism and requires protective gear and specific learning aids. Despite her bright nature and academic potential, her family struggles to provide basic meals, making her dream of a brighter future dependent on external support.
To us, these cases are urgent and deserving of swift action. We are currently working with the teachers to assess the budget required to help students like Sharom and Jane access the necessary resources to succeed.
Peter, Monica and their daughter Imani posing for a photo with students Sharom, who is deaf, and Jane, who has albinism, along with their teacher.
Urgent Nutrition Crisis
Only 100 out of nearly 800 students receive a sponsored meal—budgeted initially for 50 students, yet stretched to feed twice that number. Many other students come to school on empty stomachs, severely impacting their learning ability.
"A hungry child cannot learn effectively," Mr. Kinyanjui, the Headteacher, remarked.
We need our community's collective power to expand the feeding program and ensure more children have the nutrition they need.
The Power of Community
Reflecting on our visit, it's clear that the journey is just beginning. We've achieved so much, but there's more to do to ensure that every student at Nyakinyua Primary School has access to the support, nutrition, and educational resources they deserve. Your continued support is crucial in this ongoing journey.
At Solai Coffee, our relationships are as meaningful as the coffee itself. The smiles, laughter, and expressions of hope we witnessed are a testament to the power of giving, not because we have plenty but because we believe in a brighter future for all.
We are deeply grateful for your past support and look forward to your continued partnership in this journey.
Update: One Year Later — October 2025
Following our 2024 visit to Nyakinyua Primary School, we are grateful to share how your support continues to transform lives in this remarkable coffee-farming community.
In February 2025, we were honored to host Brad Otto and Marvin Tejada from Acts of Wisdom in Kenya. Their visit deepened our shared mission to empower students through education — ensuring every child at Nyakinyua Primary has access to learning resources, healthy meals, and a brighter future.
Acts of Wisdom committed to:
- Funding a food program at the school.
- Providing uniforms for all students.
- Building a computer lab and installing Wi-Fi access.
- Constructing a modern kitchen for healthy meal preparation.
- Sponsoring supplementary books for classroom use.
Brad Otto, Marvin Tejada, and Glarry at Solai Nyakinyua Primary School during their February 2025 visit. The Acts of Wisdom team delivered new learning materials, engaged with students, and expressed interest in sponsoring students and supporting the school’s ICT program.
Beyond these initiatives, remarkable personal stories have continued to unfold.
Jane, a bright girl with albinism, dreamed of better opportunities. Thanks to Brad Otto, she now attends a specialized boarding school. Brad also raised funds to build a new home for her family, a project overseen by Deputy Headteacher Madam Jennifer and Mr. Kuria.
Peter Kuria sponsored Sharom Njoki, who has since joined Ngara School for the Deaf, gaining access to a supportive learning environment tailored to her needs. This milestone marks a significant step toward her academic growth and personal development.
Visit the School Project page
On the left, Sharom Njoki stands proudly with her classmates at Ngara School for the Deaf, where she is now thriving in a supportive learning environment. On the right, Jane Nduta smiles at her new school, St. Mary’s Catholic Boarding School, where she continues her education with renewed hope and confidence.
A New Tradition: Nyakinyua School Birthdays
Out of this journey came something beautiful: the birth of Nyakinyua School Birthday Celebrations.
As Peter shared,
“When my family asked what I wanted for my birthday, I realized I had everything I needed. I wanted to bring that same joy to children who have never experienced a birthday.”
In September, we also had the pleasure of hosting Cal Johnson from Minnesota Storehouse Grocery and Coffee, who sponsored and joined in celebrating the September birthdays.
Today, thanks to your donations, the school now hosts monthly birthday celebrations, spreading joy and a sense of belonging to every child.
So far, over 360 kids have celebrated their birthdays in just five months since May.
Solai Coffee crafted the signature coffee blends to support Nyakinyua Primary School’s monthly birthday celebrations. Every purchase funds a Birthday Kit for the students
Shop the Birthday Blend today and make every cup a celebration of hope.
Cal Johnson from Minnesota Storehouse Grocery and Coffee joins Stephen Kuria, teachers, and students of Nyakinyua Primary School in a joyful birthday celebration.
Looking Forward: Continuing the Journey
The progress at Nyakinyua Primary School reminds us that change is possible when hearts unite for a purpose. From food and technology to education and emotional connection, every effort continues to make a tangible difference.
But our journey doesn’t stop here. There’s still more to do — more children to reach, more dreams to nurture, and more communities to uplift.
Useful Links
Brewing Hope: How Your Cup of Coffee is Transforming Lives in Kenya's Coffee Communities