About us
“I thought that coffee plantation maintenance was just for men. Then, I participated in a training given by Kahawatu Foundation at the Rurengera Washing Station when my husband was unable to attend, and I changed my mind. Before learning about good agricultural practices, especially fertilization by organic manure and NPK, we harvested only once every three years. Now that our plantation’s harvests are no longer cyclical, our production has increased progressively from 755 kg from 1,050 coffee trees in 2015 to 2,820 kg from 750 of the 1,050 coffee trees in our plantation (because we have rejuvenated 300 of the coffee trees).
With the income from the coffee we were able to buy livestock, which we sold to buy a motorcycle and land.
I was living with my husband in a non-legalized union, but thanks to the training on the benefits of a legal union, we have now legalized our union.
As we have access to credit through the Village Loan and Savings Associations (VSLAs) trained by Kahawatu, we have avoided selling our coffee to loan sharks, who charge 25-50% interest compared to 5-10% in the VSLAs. We have bought land in the chief town of Mutaho, near the market where we rent. I also bought another piece of land with the dividends I received at the end of a one-year cycle for my VSLA group.”
Stories of change
Amplifying voices from coffee communities.
Improve wellbeing , Professionalize farmers
Case study: Frederick’s story
Burundi
June 22, 2023
“In the 1990s and 2000s, the cultivation of coffee in our area was almost abandoned, but I did not stop
Build confidence , Professionalize farmers
Case study: Denyse’s story
Rwanda
June 22, 2023
“Denyse completed secondary school but couldn’t afford to go to university so she started helping her parents in the farm.”
Build confidence , Improve wellbeing
Case study: The role of women’s associations
Burundi
June 22, 2023
“In the 1990s and 2000s, the cultivation of coffee in our area was almost abandoned, but I did not stop
