“The pride individuals have in their work, in seeing the fruits of their labor provide for their families and in supporting others to do the same – it's palpable."
Dear Friends,
When we talk about the work we do, and the impact from your donations, we often talk about the economic impact; the income increase of the individuals our grant partners work with, the dollars saved, the cost of creating a job for a person experiencing extreme poverty. But there is another priority for this work that is much harder to measure, and that is dignity.
This isn’t something easy to measure with precision, but it is a thread carried through all the projects that 3rd Creek Foundation supports. When an individual experiencing ultra poverty moves beyond survival, they see their own capacity to shape their future and that of their own communities. We see dignity beam through every conversation we have with our grant partners and their program participants. Whether it’s beekeepers in Coastal Kenya and Western Tanzania, artisans in India creating home decor products from waste plastic, or rice farmers in rural Sierra Leone. The pride that these individuals have in their work, in seeing the fruits of their labor provide for their families and in supporting others to do the same – this pride is palpable. In each of these stories we care about the economics, but beneath that, people are growing their self-sufficiency, their confidence, and are better prepared for whatever may come. We have learned this sense of dignity ripples outward, spreading through families and communities, and watching that transformation is what drives this work. We hope that the stories in this annual report inspire you as much as they inspire us. This work only happens with your support, and we are deeply grateful you are part of it.Warm regards,
Gwen Straley
Executive Director
2025 Impact at a Glance
Total Impact 2015-2025
2025 Highlight - Visiting Farming out of Poverty
In Tormabum, Sierra Leone, a region still recovering from decades of hardship, our Grant Partner Farming Out of Poverty (FOOP) is helping farmers to build stable, diversified livelihoods in a hugely under-resourced rural environment. With FOOP programming, rice yields have tripled, and farmers have been able to diversify crops, allowing them to spread risk, improve nutrition, and build resilience. FOOP exemplifies the kind of thoughtful, farmer-centered programming that 3rd Creek Foundation is proud to support. Gwen and board member Zahra visted FOOP to learn about the model and the impact FOOP is creating with farmers.
New Partners
Lamu Tamu Beekeepers Cooperative
This year we welcomed new grant partner Lamu Tamu Beekeepers Cooperative (LTBK). Based in Lamu, Kenya, where many residents live on as little as $1.50–$1.70 per day, LTBK is building a sustainable, ethical supply chain for clean organic honey. Honey is a meaningful economic opportunity for local communities and can be managed alongside other work such as fishing or agriculture, allowing beekeepers to significantly boost their incomes.
LTBK pays a fairtrade price for honey that is double what members would receive on the informal market, and through our partnership, LTBK is training beekeepers in sustainable practices, protecting local biodiversity and steadily growing its membership.
This translates directly to growth of dignity. Beekeepers who once had little choice but to accept the price offered by the informal market are now part of a cooperative that values their labour, their skills, and pays a fair price for the harvest. Many of the new members joined to benefit from the trainings LTBK offer; a sign they now have the space for long-term thinking and see the opportunity to shape their futures.
Afrilife
We were delighted to partner with Afrilife Honey, marking our fifth impact investment in Tanzania. Afrilife Honey works with farmers in Western Tanzania to make the switch to modern beekeeping practices; moving away from deforestation to sustainable alternatives. Afrilife Honey offers beekeeping training, access to modern equipment and market linkages across the region.
The story of Atanas Mluki, Afrilife’s founder speaks to the dignity at the heart of this work. Atanas saw his grandfather, a skilled beekeeper struggle financially despite his deep knowledge of beekeeping. Years later, Atanas recognized that Afrilife honey had the quality to compete in global markets, what was missing wasn’t skills and knowledge, but recognition of the product and the people behind it. Afrilife Honey is now building the reputation that Tanzania’s beekeepers deserve.
Afrilife Honey is supporting over 300 farmers to improve their incomes. Afrilife Honey also protects biodiversity, by ensuring the forests remain a long-term source of livelihood; and a foundation for economic independence and dignity. We look forward to seeing the impact Afrilife makes for beekeepers and their families in the coming year.
TAMOA
In 2025 we added new investment partnerships in Latin America, beginning with Tamoa. This Mexican social enterprise works with smallholder farmers, sourcing heirloom crop varieties for distribution across North America and Europe, and in doing so, opens doors that were previously closed to rural farming communities. Farmers receive 43% of the final selling price, a price that reflects their labour and knowledge, and is delivering a life-changing 50% income increase.
Tamoa is investing in farmers through business development training. We see dignity grow as farmers are seen not just as producers, but as business leaders, building something sustainable for themselves and their families.
When families receive a fair price for their harvest, they can begin to move from thinking about one season to planning for the future. So far, Tamoa has worked with 64 families, who are all building their own economic independence.
Tierra De Monte
Also in Latin America, we welcomed a new partnership with Tierra de Monte. Tierra de Monte has already worked with over 100,000 farmers to regenerate land across Mexico. Tierra de Monte offers biological solutions that work in harmony with nature; this approach boosts farmer yields, incomes, and long-term livelihoods.
What inspires is about Tierra de Monte is how they relate to the farmers they work with. Their approach is rooted in the belief that farmers are custodians of Mexico’s land and biodiversity, a position that holds huge dignity. The farmers’ knowledge, skills and labour are highly valuable and worthy of investment.
In Case You Missed It: Fatuma's Story
LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR A RESILIENT FUTURE
3rd Creek Foundation's Grants Manager Ani Cammack visited East Coast Agritech in Kibiti, Tanzania to understand how their unique approach to eggs is growing financial independence for smallholder farmers. Click the button below to read how East Coast Agritech has supported Fatuma to transform her life.
Where We Work
Partnering with communities across Africa, Latin America and South Asia to grow economic independence.
Our Grant Partners
Our Grant Partners all work to improve the livelihoods of people experiencing extreme poverty. Through agriculture, clean energy, and entrepreneurship.
Our Impact Investment Partners
Our Impact Investment Partners span sectors from agriculture, to fashion, to water and entrepreneurship.
Financials
These financials reflect the period of July 1, 2025 - Dec 31, 2025, due to transitioning to aligning our fiscal year with the calendar year.
Photo credits: FOOP, Nature’s Nectar, Lamu Tamu Beekeepers Cooperative, Tierra de Monte, Tamoa