Her four-year studies were funded primarily by Fairtrade brand Place in the Sun.
Fairtrade is an ethical certification established to promote equality and sustainability in the farming sector. Globally, the system benefits more than 1,4 million farmers and workers in 74 countries. In South Africa, 72 wine farms are currently Fairtrade-accredited, with a premium of R600 per ton paid for their grapes. The money raised from the premiums goes towards social development projects that benefit farmworkers, their families and their communities. Although there are around 20 Fairtrade wine brands made and sold in South Africa, there are over 300 locally produced Fairtrade wine brands marketed globally.
Alvercia is the daughter of Devon Valley farm worker Arend Juries and his wife, Charmaine. She has become the role model for many, including her younger sister Chandré, who is now studying for a business diploma at Boland College.
“Our daughter has a degree to her name that no-one can ever take away from her,” says her father, who grew up on Fransmanskraal in Devon Valley where he lives with his family. “She will always find work because professional nurses are in short supply in this country. My father taught me to take responsibility in life and in work and I’ve instilled the same quality in our kids. Alvercia has used her opportunities well and we are very proud of her”.
Juries senior is responsible for the health and safety of the workers on the farm, where some of the grapes are grown to produce the popular Place in the Sun wines. The balance of the grapes are grown on the farm next door, which is also Fairtrade-accredited.
Without access to funding for their tuition, made possible by the Fairtrade premiums paid for the wine grapes grown on the two adjoining farms of the Carinus family, the two Juries sisters would not have been able to come this far. They are not the only two, however. Cameron Goieman is another member of their Devon Valley community studying at Boland College, thanks to the premiums, and it is expected that others will follow.
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