The Coffee Trust

“The Global Community Trust rents its office space from the Vice President of the Board of Directors.”

“Prior to filing the Form 990, it is reviewed by the board of directors.”

“At board of director meetings, the policy of conflict of interest is discussed. To date, there have been no conflicts of interest.”

“Officer compensation is reviewed and approved by the board of directors.”

“Documents are available upon request at the organization's office location.”

“Client Note 1 - Continued: Schedule A, Part IV, Explanation - How the Organization meets the facts and circumstances test:**Programs and Facilities are made available to the general public and the organization's definitive program to accomplish its charitable work (continued): San Gaspar Chajul is where the lions share of our work in the Ixil region takes place. In San Gaspar Chajul half their population was murdered during the war. Since the war ended, the population has rebounded. However, now half the population is under 20 years old without any jobs, skills, or opportunity. The options for young people are severely limited, leaving them little choice but to abandon failing family coffee farms and looking for a better life north across the border to the United States. In addition to problems caused by the civil war, the region faces debilitating respiratory illnesses caused by inefficient, unventilated, in-home wood stoves causing fatalities for Ixil mothers and stunted brain development for children. Chronic food shortages remain a serious problem resulting in hunger as a common occurrence after the coffee harvest. Almost completely dependent upon coffee as a sole source of income, the Ixil people are almost completely vulnerable to price drops, and losses in productions, which can be devastating. A lack of knowledge about appropriate agriculture leaves the Ixil farmers vulnerable to blights, insect infestations, and natural disasters. Recently, the region has been struck by a fungus that has destroyed over 75% of its coffee production. EDUCATION: TCTs comprehensive, integrated development effort provides funding for the maintenance and support of the only local library in San Gaspar Chaul serving students from as young as 5 ears old through high school. TCT also provides scholarships to deserving, middle school and high school students and to students to attend technical school at nearby Rafael Landivar University in Quiche. TCT has also provided university scholarships to students to attend University del Valle de Guatemala in Solola and to Rafael Landivar University in Queztalenango. Conditions for scholarships are for graduating students to remain at home for at least 5 years to work in the region. The goal of this project is provide capable Ixil youth with an opportunity to gain employment at home in the Ixil region, and apply their skills in their own community. ECONOMIC DIVERSIIFCATION: TCTs economic diversification program is designed to provide alternative income for Ixil families so they are no longer dependent upon coffee, a volatile crop at best, as a sole source of income and to provide income opportunities for unemployed Ixil youth and families. Womens Savings and Micro-credit began with 20 women and was completely dependent upon outside donations, predominantly from TCT. After 7 years, though, there are now 1,000 women in the program, which ahs become completely financially sustainable, no longer requiring capital from TCT. TCTs capacity building effort has trained the women to access their own funding fro expansion through zero interest loans from KIA Foundation and the Swedish Embassy in Guatemala al has just provided them with a 3-year, $480,000 grant for capital. TCT will continue to support the program, with capacity building as in a few short years there will be 5,000 women in the program and they will need other management skills to manage what is quickly becoming a regional bank for the poor. The Womens Weaving Cooperative also provides added income for Ixil families. It is currently 80% financially sustainable and will probably require another 1 - 2 years to reach that 100%. This program funded by TCT is also providing income for Ixil people to remain at home with their families. The Chajulense Honey Farmers, an independent association of beekeepers is now 100% financially sustainable, but seriously lacking in management skills. TCT will still support organizational development and management skills”