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WHOLE FOODS MARKET ® TEAM MEMBER VOLUNTEER PROGRAM SOUTH AFRICA 2015 SUMMARY & IMPACT REPORT

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WHOLE FOODS MARKET® TEAM MEMBER VOLUNTEER PROGRAMSOUTH AFRICA 2015 SUMMARY & IMPACT REPORT

Whole Planet Foundation® (WPF) funds microlending programs in South Africa where Stellar Organic Winery makes wine and The Republic of Tea sources Rooibos for tea sold in Whole Foods Market® (WFM) stores. WPF is a WFM non-profit whose mission is to alleviate poverty by funding microlending programs where WFM sources products as a way to alleviate poverty and give back to our global communities.

Through the WFM Team Member Volunteer Program, WFM gives Team Members the unique opportunity to travel abroad with WPF to, learn about WPF and meet microcredit clients, witnessing the transformative power of microcredit, see where and how WFM products are grown, provide community service, experience and learn from other cultures and challenge themselves by exploring exciting countries around the globe.

WHOLE FOODS MARKET® TEAM MEMBER VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

WFM TEAM MEMBER VOLUNTEER PROGRAM TRAVEL IN SOUTH AFRICA

WFM VENDOR PARTNER STELLAR ORGANIC WINERY AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT

WITH STELLAR FOUNDATION,BETWEEN KLAWER AND VREDENDAL

WFM SUPPLIER PARTNER THE REPUBLIC OF TEA SOURCES ROOIBOS

IN CLANWILLIAM

THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE

WHALE-WATCHING IN HERMANUS

WPF MICROLENDING PARTNER SMALL ENTERPRISE

FOUNDATION AND KRUGER NATIONAL PARK IN NELSPRUIT

11 WFM Team Member Volunteers traveled to South Africa to build a kitchen and dining hall, plant a garden and paint a schoolhouse for a school with Stellar Foundation and plant trees in a township

with Green Pop. They visited with microcredit clients of WPF microlending partner Small Enterprise Foundation in Nelspruit, learned about the wine that Stellar Winery makes and the Rooibos tea that

The Republic of Tea sources for their teas, which are sold in WFM stores. Team Members learned about the history of apartheid and experienced the wonderful landscape, f lora and fauna of South

Africa including game drives to spot the “big f ive” in Kruger National Park.

TEAM

Aaron Kleckner (Mid-Atlantic Region, North Wales Store)

Claudia Becerra (Southwest Region, Lamar Store)

Daniel Brea (Northeast Region, Union Square Store)

Jeffrey Lesky (Northeast Region, Brooklyn Store)

Nicole Poirier (Southwest Region, Veterans Store)

Robert Whaley (Pacific Northwest Region, Regional Office)

Ruth Pettengill (Rocky Mountain Region, Pikes Peak Store)

Tatia Nichols-Arles (United Kingdom, Cheltenham Store)

Tyler Robinson (Rocky Mountain Region, SouthGlenn Store)

Vishan Dookhu (southern Pacific Region, Kahala Mall Store)

Cynthia Tom (Northeast Region, Regional Office)

SOUTH AFRICA 2015 SUMMARY & IMPACT REPORT

GROUP COORDINATOR Barbara Joubert

SOUTH AFRICA GUIDES Barbara Joubert

PROJECT COORDINATOR Irene Dell

PROGRAM MANAGER Genie Bolduc

TRIP 1 ITINERARY- 2 WEEKS

Day 1 Wednesday August 19 - Arrive Nelspruit

Day 2 Thursday August 20 - Visit with WPF microlending partner Small Enterprise Foundation (SEF) and evening safari at Kruger National Park

Day 3 Friday August 21 - Morning safari at Kruger National Park, leave Nelspruit for Cape Town

Day 4 Saturday August 22 - Community service work with GreenPop planting trees in township near Cape Town, tour of township and Cape Town

Day 5 Sunday August 23 - Lunch at Muisbosskerm Seafood, Lambert’s Bay, with Stellar Organic Winery, arrive Klawer

Day 6 Monday August 24 - Community Service with Stellar Foundation at Steilhoogte Grade R

Day 7 Tuesday August 25 - Community Service with Stellar Foundation at Steilhoogte Grade R

Day 8 Wednesday August 26 - Community Service with Stellar Foundation at Steilhoogte Grade R

Day 9 Thursday August 27 - Community Service with Stellar Foundation at Steilhoogte Grade R

Day 10 Friday August 28 -

Day 11 Saturday August 29 - Leave Klawer for Cape Town, sightseeing

Day 12 Sunday August 30 - Cape of Good Hope and Hermanus tours

Day 13 Monday August 31 - Depart for home

2015 SOUTH AFRICA TRIP ITINERARY AUGUST 19 - 31

THE EXPERIENCE

Snagging an elephant selfie

Visiting the Cape Of Good Hope Refurbishing a kitchen and dining hall

Learning about Stellar Organic Winery winePlanting trees in a township outside of Cape Town

Planting garden beds for a homeless shelter

Meeting microcredit clients of Small Enterprise Foundation, Whole Planet Foundation’s microlending partner in South Africa

Team Members were introduced many dished featuring Rooibos tea, a tea that is indigenous to South Africa and bobotie, a Cape-Malay creation, minced meat spiced with cumin, coriander and cloves. They were treated to a delicious meal of fresh seafood, rice and barbecue, all cooked outside at one of the most spectacular beaches in the world. There were a lot of exotic meats available including kudu and ostrich.

The team was treated to dance exhibitions from dancers and exposed to the seafaring history of South Africa, penguins, and some of the most diverse flora and fauna. They and participated in a historical tour of Cape Town, learning about Nelson Mandela and the history of apartheid as well as visiting a township outside of town.

South Africa has world renowned Kruger National Park where game watchers come from all over the world to se the “big five” and if they are lucky, a rare pack of wild dogs too!

FOOD

CULTURE

TRADITION

WHOLE PLANET FOUNDATION MICROLENDING PARTNER SMALL ENTERPRISE FOUNDATION

FEMALECLIENTS

99% 99.80%

REPAYMENTRATE

9,719

WPF SUPPORTED CLIENTS AS OF 9/30/2015

History: The Small Enterprise Foundation (SEF) is a not for profit, pro-poor microfinance institution working towards the eradication of poverty by creating a supportive environment where credit and savings services foster sustainable income generation, job creation and social empowerment. SEF started in 1991 after founder John De Witt was exposed to the Grameen methodology during a trial project conducted by the local NGO he was working with at the time in Limpopo province. The organization is headquartered in Tzaneen in Limpopo Province with operations in 54 branches covering 4 provinces (Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northwest & Eastern Cape). SEF actively targets rural populations and specifically those lying off the paved roads that are most excluded from existing banking services. Otherwise South African loan sharks or “mashonisa”can charge up to 50 R interest on a loan of 100 Rand.

WPF Partnership: Project phase 1 (May 2011- May 2013) WPF grant funding of $355,882 allowed SEF to directly fund 2,044 new clients in Mpumalanga. SEF was also able to access additional capital from commercial banks willing to leverage the new equity. By leveraging WPF capital, SEF reached an additional 3,067 new clients.

Project phase 2 (May 2013-May 2014): WPF 0% interest loan of $144,118 to further increase the portfolio in Mpumalanga by 400 clients.

Project phase 3 (October 2013-October 2016): WPF 0% interest loan of $1 million to add 5053 new clients. SEF has received funding through the South African government’s Jobs

Fund to open new branches. WPF funding will compliment this endeavour by providing the loan capital for 6 new branches in South Mpumalanga.

• Total WPF Authorized funds: $1.5 million • Total WPF Funds Disbursed to SEF: $1,108,000

Small Enterprise Foundation’s Approach: SEF Development Facilitators conduct village outreach to identify supportive locations. They then conduct participatory wealth ranking surveys in partnership with local village leadership to identify the poorest households. The program is presented to the target group and interested community members can begin process of self-selecting solidarity groups. Five members make a solidarity group and several groups come together to form a center. Each member needs group and center approval of their loan application before it is presented to the SEF branch manager. SEF assists members in opening bank accounts at local Postal Banks where the loan disbursements are wired and payments made. The SEF development facilitators do not handle money in the field as safety/security is a concern in South Africa. A typical first loan size is about $120 with interest and principal repaid biweekly. SEF charges 15%, declining interest on a typical six month loan. There is also an initiation fee and VAT tax on each subsequent loan. Clients can shift to monthly repayment in subsequent loans, but meetings still take place bi-weekly to check progress and make savings deposits. Clients within a group and groups within a center may be on different loan cycles and have different disbursement dates. If a member is unable to repay, the groups and centers are expected to cover the defaulted payment.

SMALL ENTERPRISE FOUNDATION

SHOPKEEPER Team Member volunteers visited with this woman who has a small kiosk from which she sells snacks and fruit.

SEF STAFF SUPPORT The staff of WPF’s micro lending partner Small Enterprise Foundation work tirelessly, driving from village to village and walking from house to hose to support the clients they serve.

CENTER MEETING Team Member volunteers split into several groups and attended center meetings where groups of clients come together to get disbursements and make payments on their loans. before walking around the neighborhood from microcredit client business to microcredit client business. They spent time with Small Enterprise Foundation field agents and learned about SEF’s methodology.

PRODUCE This microcredit client of SEF laid out a blanket as her shop on which she placed bags full of beautiful produce to sell.

FRUIT STAND The beauty of this client’s produce makes a compelling display. Time and time again volunteers witnessed the ingenuity and hard work that microcredit clients put into their businesses.

CLOTHING Many clients buy sewing machines to use to make clothes, beautiful dresses or school uniforms using their talent to repay their loans and expand their businesses.

THE REPUBLIC OF TEAWHOLE FOODS MARKET SUPPLIER PARTNER

Rooibos (pronounced ROY-boss) is a dramatic red tea made from a South African herb that contains polyphenols and flavonoids. Often called “African redbush tea,” Rooibos herbal tea delights the senses and delivers potential health benefits with each caffeine-free sip.

THE REPUBLIC OF TEA

TASTING The team learned about how Rooibos is evaluated for quality, including color and taste. Rooibos is indigenous to South Africa, so these steps of evaluation are unique to Rooibos.

FACTORY AT WORK Team Members had the unique opportunity to see The Republic of Tea’s Rooibos being produced. The Republic of Tea has over 30 herbal teas that contain either red or green Rooibos, which has an abundance of antioxidants.

FACTORY VISIT Volunteers at Rooibos Ltd to learn about the growing, processing and uses of Rooibos tea that The Republic of Tea sources in South Africa.

WAREHOUSE Team Members toured the facilities seeing the vast amounts of Rooibos herbal tea that are produced by this one plant alone.

FACTORY TOUR Team Members participated in a professional tasting of Rooibos tasting to learn more about how processes affect the quality of Rooibos herbal tea.

ROOIBOS FACILITY TOUR The volunteers toured the extensive facility where Rooibos is brought to be processed for red (oxidized) or green (unoxidized) Rooibos. Quality evaluations, packing, storage and preparations for export all happen here where Rooibos grow in the hundreds of acres surrounding the facility.

STELLAR ORGANICS WINERYWHOLE FOODS MARKET SUPPLIER PARTNER

Information from Stellar Organic Winery:

Stellar Winery is South Africa’s largest producer of fine organic, fair trade wines. The cellar is situated at Kys Halte, just outside the Namaqualand town of Vredendal in the Western Cape Province, an area famous for its spring flowers and the only semi-arid Biosphere hotspot in the world.

Stellar sources organic grapes from a number of independent farms, which, together with the cellar, bottling and packaging plant make up a fair trade structure, the Stellar Multi-Estate. Workers on the farms and in the winery, including seasonal workers, together own 26% of the enterprise through shares in Stellar Empowerment Trust.

Innovation is one of our strengths and since our wines first appeared on the market in 2003 we have broken new ground in both winemaking and social development.

Our no-added-sulphur wine range, created in 2004, has been so successful that today Stellar is the world’s leading producer in this category.

The fair trade program began in 2004 and over the years has delivered to its beneficiaries a portion of the enterprise and developmental initiatives aimed at improving living and working conditions. Stellar Foundation, a non-profit and public benefits organization, manages development projects on the farms and in the communities from which the Stellar workers come. A detailed picture of the Foundation’s work can be found here.

We export bottled and bulk wine to markets in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. The number of ranges, labelling flexibility and in-house design capacity give customers a wide selection from which to choose products tailored to their markets.

stellarorganics.com

STELLAR ORGANICS WINERYWHOLE FOODS MARKET SUPPLIER PARTNER

Information from Stellar Organic Winery:

Stellar Winery is South Africa’s largest producer of fine organic, fair trade wines. The cellar is situated at Kys Halte, just outside the Namaqualand town of Vredendal in the Western Cape Province, an area famous for its spring flowers and the only semi-arid Biosphere hotspot in the world.

Stellar sources organic grapes from a number of independent farms, which, together with the cellar, bottling and packaging plant make up a fair trade structure, the Stellar Multi-Estate. Workers on the farms and in the winery, including seasonal workers, together own 26% of the enterprise through shares in Stellar Empowerment Trust.

Innovation is one of our strengths and since our wines first appeared on the market in 2003 we have broken new ground in both winemaking and social development.

Our no-added-sulphur wine range, created in 2004, has been so successful that today Stellar is the world’s leading producer in this category.

The fair trade program began in 2004 and over the years has delivered to its beneficiaries a portion of the enterprise and developmental initiatives aimed at improving living and working conditions. Stellar Foundation, a non-profit and public benefits organization, manages development projects on the farms and in the communities from which the Stellar workers come. A detailed picture of the Foundation’s work can be found here.

We export bottled and bulk wine to markets in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. The number of ranges, labelling flexibility and in-house design capacity give customers a wide selection from which to choose products tailored to their markets.

stellarorganics.com

ORGANIC WINERY Volunteers were led on a cellar tour and learned about the process of making organic wine, from grape to wine bottle. They learned the importance of producing organic wine, better for the consumer, the farmer and the land. They were also treated to wine tasting and local Rieldancers showed off their young talented dancers.

Irene Dell shared the variety of wines that Stellar Organic Winery produces and representing Stellar Foundation, organized the community service projects the Team Members participated in in the communities around Stellar Winery.

They toured the winery and learned about about community initiatives that Stellar Foundation supports such as the mobile clinic.

STELLAR FOUNDATIONWHOLE FOODS MARKET TM VOLUNTEER PROGRAM PARTNER

Information from Stellar Foundation: Ideas and inspiration for change that arise from a community in response to prevailing conditions are the ones that have the best chance of succeeding, but in order to blossom, ideas need a little help along the way and that’s where the Stellar Foundation comes in. The Foundation grew from Stellar Winery’s Fair Trade program which began in 2004. It was set up as an independent NPO to manage social development projects on the farms that produce organic grapes and in the towns and villages near the winery. Funding, advice, skills transfer and moral support are the vital ingredients needed to see an idea grow to its full, game-changing potential and the Foundation has established itself through its track record as a credible agent of change amongst communities and funders.

We’ve helped to change some people’s lives and much more is planned, so take a little journey with us and see what we do…

Bus Project Workers were transported to and from work by truck. A bus is much safer and more humane. The bus is now also used to transport workers of Multi-estate to and from quarterly meetings as well as training and social events.

Medical Officer Kim Roux, Stellar Multi-Estate’s Life Medical Officer, sees to all the workers of Stellar Winery Multi-estate and their families. She travels to the farms to tend to workers on-site. Since Kim joined the multi-estate, workers’ health awareness have increased considerably.

stellarorganics.com/stellar-foundation/

Team Member volunteers played games with the children, painted with them and played a lot of different ball games with them.

The children were eager to help the Team Members with their tasks and especially enjoyed painting with them.

The community and the children welcomed the Team members with open arms, warming their hearts and creating lasting impressions.

PLAYWORK COMMUNITY

Stellar Foundation has several initiatives in their community including providing meals, sun hats, recreational space, a nurse with a mobile health clinic and a bus program. Irene Dell (on the left in purple) welcomed our team and carefully selected projects that community members wanted and that Team Members could work with them to accomplish, in the communities near Stellar Organic Winery.

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

Steilhoogte Primary School is a farm school classified according to government as a disadvantaged school. In 2014 a new headmaster was appointed to this school and, together with his team, he started turning this school around, adding a computer room, cafeteria, a school anthem, and much more.

The community’s own investment in the school encouraged us to add to it. The children in this school are between the ages of 5 and 14 and come from various lifestyles and backgrounds. Some of these children don’t even have electricity available in their homes. At Steilhoogte the Team Member volunteers helped refurbish a school kitchen and dining hall providing safer and more sanitary facilities for children attending the school. They repaired dining tables, painted and installed new cabinetry.

STEILHOOGTE

The work that the team and the community perform together has impact and its affect will last a specific period of time but the relationships they form with their fellow Team Members and with members of the community can last a lifetime.

The Team Member volunteers cleared a field to build a school garden, planting vegetables of all sorts to promote healthy eating at the school.

They also refurbished the children’s play area, resurfacing the field, and sanding and painting the jungle gym with the children. Team Members brought sports equipment to give the children and had a ball playing rugby, painting and laughing with the kids.

STEILHOOGTE

GREENPOP COMMUNITY SERVICE

Whole Foods Market Team Member Volunteers participated in a community planting day, helping to plant 22 trees with children and adults at a community center in a township outside of Cape Town.

Information from Greenpop:

Planting trees, changing minds Greenpop is on a mission to (re)connect people with our planet & each other. We plant trees and have fun doing it. It’s a Treevolution. Get Involved!

Why plant trees? • Trees give us much-needed oxygen and sequester carbon dioxide • Trees increase biodiversity • Trees fix nitrates into soil making it more fertile to grow other plants, like vegetables • Urban tree planting improves pride of place • Trees provide healthy and beautiful places for children to play and learn • Fruit trees provide nutritious fruit to eat • Trees improve an area's water quality

http://www.greenpop.org

Beautiful flora from South Africa including the King Protea, their national flower

Penguins on the South African coast

Creating raised vegetable beds to provide healthy eating options for a homeless shelter

New friends

SOUTH AFRICA

“As a Whole Foods Market Team Member Volunteer, to have the opportunity to visit in their communities for even such a short period of time and see first hand the accomplishments the microcredit clients have achieved is very rewarding and truly a life changing experience.”

RUTH

“I really enjoyed the fact that I got to go on house visits with the representative from SEF. We visited different clients that were each in different stages of the microcredit process. One lady was just applying for her first loan, another was on her 10th loan, and we also got to eavesdrop on two group meetings. One thing that stood out about the experience with the microcredit clients was the poverty they lived in. It was heart breaking. Yet at the same time it was inspiring to see them working so hard on their business and making changes in their lives.”

NICOLE

“This was life changing for me. To experience first hand what poverty looks like in the modern world and to feel empowered to help fix it was a dream come true!”

LINDA

CYNTHIA

VISHAN “The WFM TM Volunteer Program shows purpose. We are not just stocking product on the shelf. What I do impacts the lives of people and I am humbled.”

“It was an absolutely stunning experience. I met some of the greatest people I'll ever meet and had experiences that I'll never forget. The trip provided insight into the way Whole Planet Foundation works and into its effects in the field.”

ANONYMOUS

“We planted trees, painted a school,

planted veggies for a homeless shelter, and built a cafeteria for the students. This experience was humbling, inspiring, and overwhelming all at the same time. To be able to connect in such a positive and lasting way in such a short time is wonderful.The TM Volunteer Program reminded me of how much I love Whole Foods Market and what we do.”

CLAUDIA“It was life changing. It has made me want to not only participate in other WFM volunteer projects but to volunteer in my own community.”

JEFFREY “The camaraderie that the women have with each other is truly inspiring. The fact that they help one another if someone is enduring hardships so that the loan can still be paid back on time demonstrates their strong community bond. Additionally, we saw first have the benefits of the program. One microcredit client was able to expand her business and even build a second home to give her and her family a more suitable place to live and conduct business.

Although I used to talk about Whole Planet Foundation before the trip I can now with all certainty speak to customers about all the amazing things individuals throughout the world can accomplish through the efforts of the Whole Planet Foundation.”

AARON

2015 SOUTH AFRICA WFM TMVP IMPACT

12 TEAM MEMBERS

SCHOOLHOUSE PAINTED

A CAFETERIA, KITCHEN AND GARDEN BUILT

22 TREES PLANTED

22 MICROCREDIT CLIENTS MET

VEGETABLE GARDEN FOR A HOMELESS SHELTER BUILT