Trees are paying for children in Haiti to attend school, thanks to a collaborative effort between Haiti’s Smallholder Farmers’ Alliance (SFA) and boot-making company, Timberland.

An article on the website, Just Means, explains how Gustave, a smallholder farmer from Gonaïves, Haiti has managed to send his 5 children to school, 3 of whom are at high school. In Haiti only 3 out of every 5 children attend high school.

Hugh Locke, Co-Founder and President of Haiti’s SFA explains how Timberland invested $1.2 million in Gonaïves over 5 years to help develop a sustainable agroforestry business model. Farmers initially volunteer their time to work in tree nurseries in exchange for agricultural experience, seeds and tools. The farmers then use these to grow crops which they sell at local markets. The result has been a 30 to 50 per cent increase in yields.

Through growing trees, such as Papaya, the farmers earn additional money from the sale of fruits without impacting on crop production.

Timberland’s next step is to create and identify a market for the farmers’ outputs. The company also hopes to replicate the model in other parts of the world where they do business and source materials such as rubber and cotton.

“We wanted to explore the possibility of creating a social business-based supply chain,” says Margaret Morey-Reuner, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Business Development at Timberland.

Read the full story: How Planting Trees in Haiti Put Kids in School: The Timberland Story