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2015 Annual Report
Blue Skies Foundation Annual Report 2015 2
CONTENTS
Introduction………………………….. ….. 03
Structure…….…………………………… 04
Board of Directors……………………….. 05
Staff……..……………………….………… 06
Foundation Council………….………… 07
Project overview………………………… 08
Ghana Projects……………….………….. 10
Senegal Projects……………….…………16
South Africa Projects……………………. 17
Past projects revisited………………….. 18
Blue Skies Foundation Annual Report 2015 3
A LETTER FROM THE BOARD
2015 was another busy year for the Foundation. We
completed ten projects including our first in Senegal,
we launched our School Farm of the Year competition
to encourage the next generation of farmers, and we
celebrated with our founding partners at the Waitrose
Foundation as they reached their ten year anniversary.
‘Embracing Agriculture’ was an appropriate theme for 2015.
Farming is the mainstay of each of our businesses and is the means
to feeding a rising world population, and yet it is in decline. In
Ghana the discovery of oil has averted attention away from
agriculture and towards a non-renewable resource which has seen
its value plummet over the past three years. Meanwhile despite
abundant natural resources and bags of potential, the value of
value-added agriculture has almost halved since 2005 when it was
worth 41% of GDP to only 22% of GDP in 2014. Ghana is just one
example, but there are many like it. If we want to crush poverty
and ensure we have enough food to feed the world then the
message is clear; we must embrace agriculture.
Blue Skies has grown because of its proximity to farmers, but it
cannot prop up the agricultural sector alone. For it to work it must
have support from all sections of society in order to provide the
market, the environment, the energy, the skills, the people, and
the encouragement to thrive. The Foundation can play a part by
bringing together participants in the supply chain to strengthen
trading relations and address some of the challenges, but we need
others to also play their part and to take their responsibility. So as
the Foundation goes from strength to strength we cannot afford to
be complacent and neither can we expect to do everything, but we
can do what little we can to inspire others to also take the initiative
and get behind agriculture!
The Board of Directors
Blue Skies Foundation Annual Report 2015 4
STRUCTURE
The Foundation is structured in such a way that enables projects to be
identified by the communities themselves. Projects are proposed by the
communities based on their needs. Each of six geographical zones
(representing areas where Blue Skies sources its fruit) has an elected member
on the Foundation council – usually a Blue Skies farmer. The communities
present and discuss their proposals in front of the Foundation council, which
will then submit their recommendation to the Foundation board. Projects have
to show a clear management and maintenance strategy by the communities.
Projects are evaluated after completion and again after one or five years
depending on the outcome of the evaluation. The Foundation manager at Blue
Skies supports and oversees the implementation and visits each project
regularly. Projects are owned by the communities.
Funding Parties
Waitrose is a UK supermarket company which is part
of the John Lewis Partnership. The company has 197
stores and focuses on selling high quality food and
offering exceptional customer service.
Albert Heijn is Dutch supermarket company and has
750 stores in the Netherlands. Like Waitrose, Albert
Heijn also focuses on selling quality food and offering
a high level of customer service.
Blue Skies is a fresh-cut fruit company with factories
in Ghana, South Africa, Egypt and Brazil. The company
prepares fruit at its factories which it sells to shops in
Europe, South Africa and Brazil, including Waitrose
and Albert Heijn.
Advisors ICCO are an independent advisory body who provide
advice on projects on behalf of the Albert Heijn
Foundation. ICCO offer advice on the development of
project applications as well as project
implementation, monitoring, evaluation and impact
assessment.
Blue Skies Foundation Annual Report 2015 5
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Abena Asomaning-Antwi Foundation Advisory Director
Abena is a Management Consultant with multi-faceted experience
gained from years of working in different disciplines and sectors.
Her areas of expertise include Identification and Composition of
new Ventures; Results-based Strategic Management and Planning,
Effective Networking and Customer Care. Abena is also Founder &
Executive Director of Angel Zoe Foundation, a Ghanaian Non-Profit
Organization which aims to assist in the rehabilitation, reformation
and reintegration of women in prison and to render support to
vulnerable children.
Amali Bunter Foundation Director, Waitrose
Amali Bunter is responsible for managing Waitrose’s sustainable
development programme across Africa, the Waitrose Foundation,
which aims to enable better livelihoods for workers within the
retailer’s supply chains. She also manages the business's strategic
partnership with Fairtrade, from product conversions, marketing
campaigns and targeted programmes in sourcing communities. She
is passionate about the role of business within global development
and the positive impact of sourcing responsibly.
Anthony Pile Foundation Director, Blue Skies
Anthony Pile is the Founder and Chairman of Blue Skies, which he
setup in 1997. He was a soldier in the British Army for 13 years and
saw active service in the Middle East, Northern Ireland and Cyprus.
He has been a magistrate, attended the post graduate Sloan
Fellowship Programme at the London Business School and was the
Managing Director of Orchard House Foods. In 2011 Anthony
received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Cranfield in
recognition of his achievements with Blue Skies.
Henri Zondag Foundation Director, Albert Heijn
Henri is a graduate from Nijenrode Business University in the
Netherlands. After active military service as an Infantry Officer in
the Dutch Army, he joined Procter & Gamble in 1982 where he
spent much of his career in customer development, marketing,
organizational development and general management. In 2007, he
was invited by Ahold to become involved in the development of
their Sustainable Business Development model. Henri currently
oversees community development projects in cooperation with
several African suppliers in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Mali
and Ghana.
Blue Skies Foundation Annual Report 2015 6
FOUNDATION STAFF
Simon Derrick Blue Skies Foundation Coordinator
Simon joined Blue Skies in 2005. He looks after the company’s
brand and communications and has taken a lead role in advancing
the Joint Effort Enterprise model which Blue Skies has become
recognised for. He has a Masters degree in Sustainable
Development and has previously worked for the BBC and for a
market research agency as a data analyst and systems developer.
Alistair Djimtey Blue Skies Foundation Manager
Alistair Derby Djimatey joined Blues Skies in 2002 as a quality
Assurance Officer. He progressed to the position of Audit Controller
in charge of ensuring compliance with BRC, GlobalGAP and organic
standards. He was also responsible for internal auditing of the
quality management system and training of newly employed staff as
well as refresher training for regular staff. Alistair has high affinity
for community service and advocacy. He was the chairman of the
local Union for over two years.
Waydu Nhlapo Blue Skies Foundation Representative, South Africa
Waydu Nhlapo was born in Siyathemba and is married with two
daughters. She is a graduate from Vanderbiljpack Collage. Waydu
joined Blue Skies in 2004 and was elected as Welfare chairperson.
She was appointed as a Quality Assurance Officer in 2005 and was
later made a team leader. Waydu enjoys working closely with
people and devoting time and effort where her help is needed. In
2006 Waydu was promoted to the position of Human Resource
Manager and currently remains employed in this capacity. She took
on the additional responsibility as Foundation Officer in 2009.
Gloria Asare Blue Skies Foundation Representative, Senegal
Gloria Asare is the General Manager of the Blue Skies Packhouse in
Senegal. Gloria has a wealth of experience in fruit procurement and
plays an instrumental role in sourcing mango for Blue Skies across
the West African Region. Gloria is entrepreneurial, resourceful and
fluent in many languages including French, which is the native
language of Senegal. Gloria leads the Foundation Committee in the
town of Notto Gouye Diama where the Blue Skies pack house is
based.
Blue Skies Foundation Annual Report 2015 7
FOUNDATION COUNCIL
Our Foundation Council in Ghana meets regularly to debate
project ideas and develop proposals for submission to the Board.
The Council is made up of representatives of staff and grower
regions. Led by Foundation Manager Alistair Djimatey, our
Council Members are Frank Essel (representing sugarloaf
pineapple growers), Martin Owusu (representing staff), Gametti
Moses (representing pineapple growers), Lemuel Mantey
(representing papaya growers), James Nyamson (representing
coconut growers), Seth Diammah (representing the first mango
growing area), and Alimo Godfred (representing the second
mango growing area).
Some of the Council are pictured below with the Foundation Board.
Photographed (left to right) is, Seth Diammah, Frank Essel, Amali
Bunter, Martin Owusu, Gametti Moses, Simon Derrick, Henri
Zondag, Abena Antwi and Alistair Djimatey.
Blue Skies Foundation Annual Report 2015 8
2015 PROJECT OVERVIEW
This project was to provide a new three-classroom
block, head teacher’s office and store for the school
to enable a safe environment for the teachers and
students.
The aim of this project was to construct a four
bedroom teacher’s accommodation block for a
school in the Central Region of Ghana in order to
improve the retention rate of teachers at the school.
The aim of this project was to provide a new twelve
seater KVIP for the people of Pokrum in order to
improve the health status of the community and
reduce incidents of communicable diseases.
The objective of this project was to construct a 10-
seater KVIP latrine for a school in a pineapple
growing community in order to reduce
communicable diseases among the population.
This project was to provide a toilet facility for
patients and staff at a clinic in the town of Nswam in
order to improve sanitation and raise the profile of
this important health facility.
The aim of this project was to clean-up the town of
Notto Gouye Diama by mobilizing volunteers within
the community and providing bins and equipment to
enable the safe removal of waste from the area.
Blue Skies Foundation Annual Report 2015 9
2015 PROJECT OVERVIEW
The ‘School Farm of the Year’ Competition has
been designed to encourage students in Ghana to
get involved in setting up and managing a farm
for their school.
Zenzele Day Care Centre
The project involved the provision of furniture, toys
and learning resources for this Day Care Centre for
children between the ages of 2 and 5 in the town of
Greylingstad in South Africa
This project was to provide play equipment for the
Joy Day Care Centre which is located in the town of
Grootvlei in South Africa to improve literacy among
learners going in to primary education.
The aim of this project was to support this centre for
disabled children in the town of Balfour in South
Africa by providing learning resources and catering
equipment.
Blue Skies Foundation Annual Report 2015 10
GHANA PROJECTS
Obodan is a community of around 1,500
people in the Akuapem South Municipality of
the Eastern region of Ghana. It is a farming
community and home to several pineapple
suppliers to Blue Skies.
The Junior High school is used by a number of
neighbouring villages and has a population of about 200 pupils. Previously the
classrooms had become structurally unsound and large cracks led to the
buildings being declared unsafe by local authorities.
This project was therefore to provide a new three-classroom block, head
teacher’s office and store for the school to enable a safe environment for the
teachers and students. The project was completed in July 2015.
Above: The new classroom block at Obodan School
Project Evaluation Score
Physical condition GOOD
Working Maintenance Plan YES
Overall Status GOOD
The student population has
risen from 189 to 250 pupils
and currently all classrooms are full.
Blue Skies Foundation Annual Report 2015 11
GHANA PROJECTS
Nanabin is a farming community of around
1,900 people including 24 suppliers of
Sugarloaf pineapple to Blue Skies. The village
has a basic school with around 400 pupils and
10 teachers, however due to the remote
location of the village and the poor availability
of adequate accommodation, the school has
had difficulty in keeping many of the teachers
that have been posted here.
In the last seven years thirteen teachers have been transferred to other
schools which has reduced contact time available for students and led to a
sharp decline in academic performance. The provision of a four bedroom
teacher’s accommodation block was therefore designed to improve the
retention rate of teachers at the school to help reduce absenteeism, increase
contact time and improve performance of students at the school.
Above: Scenes from the opening ceremony and the new accommodation block
Project Evaluation Score
Physical condition GOOD
Working Maintenance Plan YES
Overall Status GOOD
Teachers are now
available for longer
periods of the day. As a
result student contact
hours have increased
and discipline within
the community has improved.
Blue Skies Foundation Annual Report 2015 12
GHANA PROJECTS
Pokrom is a pineapple farming community
located in the Akuapem Municipality of the
Eastern Region of Ghana and has a population
of about 1800 people. Pokrom is home to
many pineapple suppliers to Blue Skies,
including some of the first to supply Blue Skies
when the company started operating in 1998.
The community has an old public place of
convenience which is in a bad condition and
located too far from people’s homes to be used, therefore there has been a
gradual increase in incidents of communicable disease over the years due to
poor sanitary conditions within the area.
This project was therefore to provide a new twelve seater KVIP for the people
of Pokrom in order to improve the health status of the community and reduce
incidents of communicable diseases.
Above: The KVIP at Pokrom shortly after its completion
Project Evaluation Score
Physical condition GOOD
Working Maintenance Plan YES
Overall Status GOOD
There has been a 100%
reduction in cholera
and related diseases
since the project was
completed,. 60%
increase in knowledge
on communicable
disease within the community.
Blue Skies Foundation Annual Report 2015 13
GHANA PROJECTS
Pakro is a farming community in the Nsawam-
Adoagyiri Municipality in the Eastern Region
of Ghana and is home to 1,700 people
including a number of suppliers to Blue Skies.
Pakro has an Anglican School which has over
700 pupils studying at both Primary and
Junior High levels. A few years ago the
school’s only toilet block collapsed leaving nowhere for people to go. In the
three years prior to this project reports on faecal related sickness increased
as well as malaria and other water borne diseases. During a recent cholera
outbreak in the country, this community recorded the second highest
infection rate with three deaths.
The objective of this project was therefore to construct a 10- seater KVIP
latrine for the school to improve the health status of the community, prevent
seasonal cholera and reduce communicable diseases. Work on the project
started in January 2015 and was completed by June in the same year.
Above: The new KVIP at Pakro School
Project Evaluation Score
Physical condition GOOD
Working Maintenance Plan YES
Overall Status GOOD
Indiscriminate
defecation by students
has reduced by over
90%. Academic
performance has also increased.
Blue Skies Foundation Annual Report 2015 14
GHANA PROJECTS
The Blue Skies Foundation first supported
the Nsawam Clinic in 2010 when it renovated
the medical training centre. As part of the
Foundation’s evaluation process, the Board
revisited the project in December 2014 and
met with the Director and staff at the project.
During the visit it became apparent that
there was an urgent need for a toilet facility for the clinic for use by staff and
patients as there was nowhere for people to go other than using facilities
across the street. The Board therefore agreed it would consider an
application by the clinic for a toilet block as long as it was screened and
approved by the Foundation Council according to the proper process. By
January 2015 the project had been approved by the Council and was given
the go ahead by the Board for work to start with immediate effect. It was
officially opened in June.
Above: Pictures of the new WC facility in various stages of development
Project Evaluation Score
Physical condition GOOD
Working Maintenance Plan YES
Overall Status GOOD
Everybody is proud and
confident when at work.
Patient satisfaction and
staff confidence levels
have improved as a result of this project.
Blue Skies Foundation Annual Report 2015 15
GHANA PROJECTS
Despite abundant natural resources and a growing
population, agriculture is in decline in Ghana. Farming is
perceived by the young as a ‘dead-end’ occupation for the
very poor and an unattractive proposition for bright,
ambitious job seekers. In addition there exists poor
infrastructure to support rural areas and enable
agricultural interests to maximise its potential. The value
of value-added agriculture has almost halved since 2005
when it was worth 41% of GDP to only 22% of GDP in 2014.
This is bad news for the Ghanaian food industry, exporters
and for Blue Skies and its customers who rely on Ghanaian
farmers for its supply of high quality, fresh fruit.
The ‘School Farm of the Year’ pilot competition was launched in Ghana in
2015. This is a project the Foundation started planning in 2014 as an extension
of our ‘Get Inspired’ campaign to inspire young people think about how they
as individuals can make a positive difference in the world.
The ‘School Farm of the Year’ Competition has been designed to encourage
students to get involved in setting up and managing a farm for their school, so
that they may learn about agriculture and its value in a competitive
environment.
The ‘school farm’ or ‘garden’ was once a common feature in schools in Ghana
and was a place where students would visit to learn about food and farming.
More recently however the school farm concept has declined and it is
reported that the only engagement students would have with agriculture was
to be sent to the local farm if they misbehaved!
The School Farm of the Year Competition is therefore intended to help to
reverse the negative image of agriculture among young people in Ghana to
foster the next generation of farmers.
Above: Students at participating in the School Farm Competition
Blue Skies Foundation Annual Report 2015 16
SENEGAL PROJECTS
Notto Gouye Diama is a farming community
in the Thies region of Senegal with a
population of around 1,300 people including
some staff and suppliers of the neighbouring
Blue Skies pack house. One of the biggest
challenges within the community is the
management of waste as there is nowhere for
community members to dispose of their rubbish. The result is that mounds of
waste are left to build up on the streets and behind people’s homes, thereby
creating a serious risk to the health of local people leading to outbreaks of
diseases such as cholera during the wet seasons. An additional environmental
and health hazard is created from fumes when waste is burnt.
This project, the first for the Foundation in Senegal, was therefore intended to
clean-up the town by mobilizing volunteers within the community and
providing bins and equipment to enable the safe removal of waste from the
area. An important objective was to encourage a sense of responsibility and
volunteerism within the local community so that the project could be
replicated in the future, and to raise awareness of the Blue Skies Foundation
and how it might work together with community members to solve other
challenges. The project took place on 9th September 2015.
Above: The clean-up operation in progress at Notto Gouye Diama
Project Evaluation Score
Physical condition GOOD
Working Maintenance Plan YES
Overall Status GOOD
Odours from
accumulated waste in
the area has reduced
drastically since this project took place.
Blue Skies Foundation Annual Report 2015 17
S OUTH AFRICA PROJECTS
The aim of this project was to support this centre
for disabled children in Balfour by providing
learning resources (including computers, toys and
puzzles) and catering equipment (including a gas
stove and a chest freezer) to enable an enhanced
learning environment and to help the centre to
provide a feeding programme for the children.
Project Evaluation Score
Physical condition GOOD
Working Maintenance Plan YES
Overall Status GOOD
The Zenzele Day Care Centre is located in the town
of Greylingstad in South Africa and has over 60 2 to
5 year old children and 7 staff. It is designed to
improve literacy levels among learners going in to
primary education.
The project involved the provision of a new ‘Jungle
Gym’ playground.
Project Evaluation Score
Physical condition GOOD
Working Maintenance Plan YES
Overall Status GOOD
The Joy Day Care Centre is located in the
town of Grootvlei in South Africa and cares
for 84 children between the ages of 2 and 5
and has 4 members of staff. The centre
caters for needy children in the area and,
like the Zenzele project, is intended to
improve literacy among learners going in to
primary education. This project was to
provide play equipment for the Day Centre.
Project Evaluation Score
Physical condition GOOD
Working Maintenance Plan YES
Overall Status GOOD
Blue Skies Foundation Annual Report 2015 18
PAST PROJECTS REVISITED
Completed: 2014. Location: Juapong, Ghana Details: Construction of two classroom block for a Junior High School
Completed: 2014. Location: Yaw Duodu, Ghana Details: Accommodation for three teachers for a remote Junior High School
Completed: 2014. Location: Akraman, Ghana Details: Water system for papaya farming community in Ghana.
Completed: 2014. Location: Canaan, Ghana Details: Water system for a coconut farming community in Ghana.
Completed: 2014. Location: Somanya, Ghana Details: Water storage tanks for two schools in Ghana
Completed: 2014. Location: Sokpekope, Ghana Details: Construction of public toilet block for village in mango growing area
Completed: 2014. Location: Abortia Junction, Ghana Details: Construction of public toilet block for village in mango growing area
Completed: 2014. Location: Oboadaka, Ghana Details: Toilet block for a pineapple farming community
Completed: 2014. Location: Siyathemba, South Africa Details: Security fence for a crèche in the town of Siyathemba
Completed: 2014. Location: Balfour, South Africa Details: Renovation of a kitche for a primary school in South Africa
Completed: 2014. Location: Balfour, South Africa Details: Provision of seating for a waiting area at a clinic
Blue Skies Foundation Annual Report 2015 19
PAST PROJECTS REVISITED
Completed: 2013. Location: Yaw Krow, Ghana Details: Construction of public toilet block for village in papaya growing area
Completed: 2013. Location: Dobro, Ghana Details: Construction of a three classroom block for a primary school
Completed: 2013. Location: Krabo Krese, Ghana Details: Provision of two boreholes and handpumps for a papaya growing community.
Completed: 2013. Location: Nsakye, Ghana Details: Construction of public toilet block for village in pineapple growing area
Completed: 2013. Location: Balfour, South Africa Details: Playground and learning materials for two schools.
Completed: 2012. Location: Akotuakromm, Ghana Details: Construction of public toilet block for village in papaya growing area
Completed: 2012. Location: Nsawam, Ghana Details: Construction of public WC for a town in Ghana
Completed: 2012. Location: Balfour, South Africa Details: Renovation of WC blocks for primary school in South Africa
Completed: 2012. Location: Balfour, South Africa Details: Renovation of WC blocks for primary school in South Africa
Completed: 2012. Location: Somanya, Ghana Details: Construction of an agricultural training centre for farmers and students
Completed: 2011. Location: Abortia, Ghana Details: New classroom block construction for Primary School
Blue Skies Foundation Annual Report 2015 20
PAST PROJECTS REVISITED
Completed: 2011. Location: Nsawam, Ghana Details: New multi-use games area for Blue Skies and surrounding community
Completed: 2011. Location: Nsawam, Ghana Details: Renovation of medical training centre for a clinic
Completed: 2011. Location: Balfour, South Africa Details: Provision of computer equipment for I M Manchu Secondary School
Completed: 2011. Location: Greylingstad, South Africa Details: Provision of perimeter fence for Tegwan’s Nest Primary School
Completed: 2011. Location: Greylingstad, South Africa Details: Provision of computers for an orphanage
Completed: 2010. Location: Sekykrom, Ghana Details: Renovation of a Kindergarten and construction of a WC and Kitchen
Completed: 2010. Location: Fotobi, Ghana Details: New classroom block construction for Fotobi Junior High School
Completed: 2010. Location: Amanfrom, Ghana Details: Construction of compost toilet system for Amanfrom village
Completed: 2010. Location: Akraman, Ghana Details: Renovation of classroom block for Akraman Primary School
Completed: 2010. Location: Canaan Farm, Ghana Details: Provision of corn mill and construction of service centre for Canaan Farms
Completed: 2011. Location: Ekumfi Abor and Ekumfi Nanabin, Ghana Details: Mechanized water system for Abor and borehole and hand pump for Nanabin
Blue Skies Foundation Annual Report 2015 21
The Blue Sky Foundation
PO Box C 3506, Accra, Ghana
www.blueskies.com/foundation
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