James Purefoy Partners with ActionAid to Improve Poor Farmers' Livelihoods
James Purefoy, British actor and star of NBC's “The Philanthropist," took a break from his new show to visit women farm workers living on poverty wages in the Western Cape of South Africa. His fact-finding visit highlighted the problems and challenges women fruit pickers and packers face and how supermarket giants -- major buyers of the fruit -- are having a devastating effect on their lives. Spending 80 percent of their income on food and struggling to get by on poverty wages, these women are being hit by the double impact of the financial and food crises in the developing world.
"I believe in giving a man a pole, not a fish," Purefoy said. "I believe in giving a man not just a pole to fish with, but teaching him how to market, package and sell the fish, so they move on and buy potatoes."
Purefoy, who shies away from the term "charity," is working with ActionAid on several fronts to shape legislation and awareness around human rights issues.
Purefoy talks with farm worker Nobomi Khophe in her home in Mbkweni.
Copyright © Eric Miller/Panos
"It's about changing attitudes and legislation," Purefoy said. "For me, its only when laws are in place that things improve."
ActionAid's partner organization Women on Farms works to protect the rights of women farm workers like Gertruida Baartman, who courageously came to the United Kingdom two years in a row to attend Tesco's annual general meeting after ActionAid bought her a single share. Tesco is a British-based international grocery and general merchandising retail store.
In 2006, Gertruida told 600 shareholders and Tesco CEO Sir Terry Leahy, "I don't get paid enough to feed my children and I have to work with pesticides with my bare hands. I don't get the same wages as other men even if I do the same work."
Since then, voluntary initiatives and increased ethical auditing of farms from Tesco have not been translated into real improvements like a living wage for workers. This comes after recent record-breaking profits posted by the company.
During his seven month stint filming the show in south Africa, James met women just like Gertruida to learn more about their living and working conditions.
"You have to do it one step at a time," Purefoy added. "Be realistic with the issues you are involved with... its about concrete baby steps."
