Story of change
Xavera's Story
- Rwanda
- April 10, 2025
Support from Kahawatu Foundation has equipped Xavera with the skills to transform her livelihood and her coffee farming business, while also training and inspiring others in her community.
Xavera, 65, has been a coffee farmer for many years and owns 800 coffee trees near Nyamiyaga Coffee Washing Station (CWS) in Rwanda. A mother of two and a widow, Xavera lives with her two grandchildren in Kamonyi District.
In 2020, Xavera started attending Kahawatu Foundation training sessions on gender, farming as a family business (FAAB), good agricultural practices (GAP) and sustainable techniques, such as mulching, pruning and water conservation. She also became the lead farmer of the Abadacogora Producer Organization (PO) established by Kahawatu Foundation, a group of 32 members who meet monthly for training and collaboration. She credits these trainings with changing her approach to coffee farming.
I was a coffee farmer for so long but didn’t know the importance of good agricultural practices. I used to farm as I had seen my parents do. Now, I know to harvest only ripened cherries in clean baskets and take better care of my coffee trees.
In 2023, after receiving training, Xavera stumped half of her trees to improve productivity, harvesting 500 kg of cherry from the remaining trees. Meanwhile, as a PO leader, she gained not only agricultural knowledge but also confidence and the ability to train others in her group, fostering a culture of shared learning and growth.
Her journey to economic independence took another leap in 2023 when she received a sow through a livestock program funded by the Nestlé Zoégas project. Xavera sold the pig for US $70 (100,000 RWF) and 2 of its 5 piglets for $28. Using these earnings and a loan of $253 from her Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA), she purchased a coffee plot with 150 additional trees.
In addition to reinvesting the proceeds in her coffee farm, Xavera uses the pig waste as fertilizer for her stumped coffee trees and the newly acquired farm, applying around 10 kg every month to improve soil health and productivity.
Xavera actively participates in two VSLAs, saving $1.40 (2,000 RWF) per week. She attributes her ability to secure loans and expand her coffee farm to the financial discipline cultivated through these savings groups. She plans to continue to save and expand her land for more coffee cultivation.
“The savings and knowledge I’ve gained have equipped me to think beyond my current situation. I aim to grow more coffee and create a sustainable source of income for my family,” Xavera explains.
Through her dedication, Xavera has not only improved her livelihood but also inspired others in her community to pursue growth and innovation.
Stories of change
