When we first created the CommuniTea blend in partnership with the Cape Breton Tea Company, we had a dream—one that infused the spirit of compassion into every cup. This wasn’t just about creating another tea; it was about creating a ripple effect of hope. We wanted to raise awareness about the daily realities in Malawi, one of the world’s poorest countries, and directly support the Moyo family—a beautiful, resilient extended family of 25 living together and surviving as one unit.
Malawi, nestled inland from Mozambique in sub-Saharan Africa, is a place where the basics—food, water, shelter, education—are not guaranteed. Yet, it’s also a place filled with strong hearts, unwavering faith, and dreams for a better life.
Through our CommuniTea sales, we’ve been able to provide vital support that literally keeps this family alive and moving forward. The strength of this tea is not just in its flavour—it’s in its purpose.
Education: The First Step to Change
In Malawi, education is not a given. School fees are high, and the cost of uniforms, supplies, and transportation can be overwhelming for families already struggling to meet basic needs. For many children, especially girls, education often ends early.
But CommuniTea is changing that story.
Because of your purchases, every school-aged child in the Moyo family—boys and girls alike—is attending school. For teens and young adults who previously had to leave school, new opportunities have opened up to return and continue their studies.
This is not a simple handout. These students walk kilometers daily in extreme heat—often without shoes—carrying dreams bigger than the weight of their backpacks. They study at night by candlelight, if at all, and attend classes even when sick, because they know education is their key to a better future.
Exams, Then Back to the Fields
In North America, exam season might mark the start of summer vacation. For the Moyo youth, it marks a shift from schoolbooks to hard labour.
Immediately after exams, the older children head to the family’s “far away garden”—a plot of land leased with the help of tea sales. There, under the guidance of Stella, who lives on-site with her two-year-old son Joseph under a plastic canopy, they plant, harvest, and process rice and sweet potatoes by hand. Each seedling is placed in the ground manually, every rock and weed removed with basic tools. The work is grueling, but the reward is survival.
The rice crop, stored in 50kg sacks and carried by foot, helps feed the entire family for months. Without the garden, without this food, there would be hunger.
Women’s Leadership, Family Unity
This story isn’t just about what we give—it’s about what we receive. Watching how the Moyo family supports each other, how they refuse to send orphans away or separate their family, is profoundly moving.
The family is led by Peter Moyo, his wife Stella, and Maria, the widow of the late Stephen Moyo. Together, they ensure that every child has a place, a purpose, and a future. Whether it’s tending the gardens, fetching water, cleaning clothes, or walking children safely to school, everyone plays a part. No one is left behind.
Their love, unity, and faith in the face of overwhelming challenges inspire us to reexamine what community truly means.
The Strength of a Cup
The tea you enjoy—fragrant, comforting, and uniquely Canadian—is more than a beverage. It is part of a global story of resilience and possibility. CommuniTea is literally helping fund school fees, notebooks, shoes, rice sacks, transportation, farming tools, and land leases. It’s funding life.
And every cup you raise connects you to this story. It says, “You matter.” It says, “I see you.” It says, “We’re in this together.”
The Moyo family often says, “Without you, we were nothing.” But we know the truth: they are everything. Their courage and commitment teach us about perseverance, faith, and the true power of community.
Business with Heart: The Power Behind the Cup
This story wouldn’t be possible without the compassionate and committed businesses who have embraced CommuniTea as more than just a product—they’ve embraced it as a purpose. From local shops that proudly carry the blend on their shelves to dedicated vendors and community groups like the Wine Country Tai Chi Society, AmplifYouNetwork.com, Amplify Impact Academy, and in Sydney, Nova Scotia the AbiliTEA’s Cafe, your partnership has fueled every success we’ve shared. By offering shelf space, sharing the story, and encouraging customers to connect with their cup, you’ve become a vital bridge between worlds. Your efforts prove that when business is led with heart and aligned with intention, the impact can be truly global. Thank you for being the hands and hearts that have helped lift the Moyo family—and for showing us all how commerce can be a force for deep, meaningful change.
What You Can Do
Keep drinking tea with intention. Share this story. Talk about it at your tea table. Host a CommuniTea gathering. Tell others about how a simple cup is part of something so much bigger.
Because when we combine purpose with action, we magnify the good in the world. And when we choose to stand beside those who need us, the world becomes smaller, kinder, and more united.
Thank you for being a vital part of this journey. You are the reason CommuniTea is strong enough to change lives.
With gratitude,
~ Charlene Waines
June 25, 2025