Social responsibility The farm employs 1200 people permanently and is the largest employer in the district. 50% of the employees are housed on the farm with their families. The farm is situated in a rural area 40 km from the nearest town. The area is not supplied with electricity and has dirt roads.  There are limited facilities for healthcare and schooling. Because of this the farm is assisting the community with a small hospital and a school. Since 1999 a savings and credit cooperative (Sacco) was started at the employees' initiative, with the support of the company. The aim is to provide employees with development loans for housing and education. A Workers' Council has been functional for six years to optimize the communication between the managment and the workforce. Meetings are held on a monthly basis. All employees recieve a copy of the Farm's Rules and Regulations document, which has been developed together with the employees. A Women's League is active to discuss gender issues on the farm. Bonus schemes based on the quality of performance are an integral part of the benefit scheme of the Farm. Since the start of flower production, social responsibility has been an important aspect of the daily operations at Mount Elgon Orchards. The standard of the social responsability programme has been formalised through the membership of the Kenyan Flower Council, weblink www.kenyaflowers.co.ke

Staff housing on the farm

Andersen Medical Centre In 1996 the clinic was set up by Dr. Bea Andersen – Schipper and one nurse.  It is now a facility with 10 Kenyan qualified staff which offers a whole range of services to farm employees, their families and the neighboring communities. The clinic serves about 25,000 patients per year. The day to day running of the clinic is funded by the farm, but parts of the development of the clinic have been supported throughout the years by donors, mainly from the Netherlands through "Stichting Ondersteuning Kitale" project (SOK)  Website link : SOK

Andersen Nursery and Primary school A nursery and primary school was started in 1998 with 2 classrooms. The school now has 3 nursery school classes and 8 primary school classes.  660 children have been enrolled in the school. There is also a unit for children with learning disabilities. The running of the school is 100% funded by the farm Since 2005 the school recieves support form "Elimu Mount Elgon Foundation" from the Netherlands. See website link; www.elimumountelgon.nl .

Andersen Nursery and Primary School