We’re excited to launch our newest coffee, Rise Up Blend which is partially sourced from the female cooperative, Rebuild Women's Hope, on Idjwi Island in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Founded by Marceline Budza in 2013, this cooperative empowers women by using coffee production as a means for socio-economic development, contributing to education, healthcare, and economic growth to it’s female coffee farmers.
We visited Rebuild Women’s Hope this year and caught up with Marceline to see how things are going at the cooperative. In 2024, the cooperative has set itself a number of objectives with a view to improving the income of women and the well-being of the coffee-growing community.
Coffee production and exports:
This year, the RWH cooperative produced and exported 9 containers (172,800kgs of coffee) around Europe and Asia, which was a great achievement for the women. This work has enabled them to sell their coffee at a good price, increase their income, have access to decent jobs and also enable the development of all sections of the wider community.
Agronomic support to farmers:
This year, they have provided agronomic support to small producers who are members of the RWH cooperative by giving them training in good farming practices, profitability calculations, literacy and setting up family tree nurseries. The aim of this agronomic support is to help small producers increase their coffee yields, while preserving a healthy environment.
The cooperative is also working on the traceability of coffee in the fields of small producers in order to be ready for the new European Union regulations.
Apprenticeship training:
The aim of this activity is to enable women to be economically independent and increase their income for their families during the lean period when coffee is not produced.
The women produce a number of items that are sold locally including clothing, soap and baked goods. This Christmas, they will be selling the women's products (including soap, jewellery and more) internationally through Volcano, which is a really big success for the cooperative.
Improve sexual and reproductive health at the maternal and reproductive hospital centre:
The cooperative has a maternal and paediatric hospital where care is given to women and children to enable them to have access to quality health care with a view to reducing the mortality rate in our coffee-growing community.
To this end, they are implementing a project to raise awareness of sexual and reproductive health in their local coffee-growing community, focusing on young people with a view to reducing the rate of sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies, which is a source of poverty among young people. This project also provides care for patients already suffering from sexually transmitted diseases.
You can support the cooperative's hospital through their crowdfund here.
Raising awareness of positive masculinity and women's rights:
With the aim of promoting women's rights within their coffee-growing community, positive masculinity and transformational female leadership, the RWH cooperative is organising training sessions and discussions on this subject with a view to changing the mentality of their community and gradually moving towards change and an equitable society.
Construction of the RWH Dry Mill and coffee tasting laboratory:
The RWH cooperative has been equipped with a coffee processing factory and coffee laboratory, both of which have just been financed by the USADF and hope to be producing coffee in their dry mill by 2025.
Launch of a Barista school
To encourage young people in their community to take an interest in coffee growing, the cooperative is setting up a barista school to enable young people to get involved in the coffee sector as they are the future of tomorrow.
We look forward to hearing from the cooperative at the end of the year to see how they have achieved their 2024 goals.
Learn more about how and why Rebuild Women’s Hope began in our previous blog here.
About Rise Up Blend
- Origin: Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Process: Natural and Washed
- Tastes like: Raspberry Candy, Orange Rind, Milk Chocolate
Our newest blend combines two origins, Brazil and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, resulting in an espresso with muted acidity and delightful tasting notes of milk chocolate, orange rind, and raspberry candy.
Buy Our Rise Up Blend here.
