In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, Rwanda Abakundakawa is an outstanding example of community, social responsibility and human resilience. This 100% women’s produced coffee stands alone with full bodied African flavor nuances of cranberry and honey sweetness, with a champagne sparkle.
Precautionary measures are currently being taken all across the supply chain, from seed to cup. In recent weeks, new health and safety measures have been put in place to protect workers, so coffees can continue to be picked and processed. The images seen here, captured on a cell phone, demonstrate the hand-washing stations that have been set up throughout the region, the physical distancing of workers, and the use of gloves and masks where possible.
Rwanda Abakundakawa is a certified Fair Trade and Organic coffee and part of a larger cooperative powered by 30,000 Rwandan coffee farmers. Abakundakawa cooperative farmers hand-pick ripe cherries on the volcanic slopes of Rwanda's mountains Gakenke district. The area's distinct micro-climate, high elevation and rich volcanic soils help produce coffee with balanced sweet, floral and fruit-forward notes in the cup. Abakundakawa has grown rapidly, adding a second washing station and expanding its membership from 180 to nearly 2,000 coffee growers since its founding in 2004.
Abakundakawa is a central economic and organizing institution that builds local infrastructure and pays dividends to its members. Co-op leaders, who are democratically elected, implement community projects like supplying fresh water to a local hospital. Abakundakawa also provides its members with health insurance and has partnered with an NGO to give all its members dairy cows, making strides towards improving food security in the region.
Abakundakawa has two prominent women's organizations, Dudingekawa and Abanyameraka, demonstrating the co-op's focus on improving the livelihoods of women in the community, as the women have displayed the tendency to consistently invest their earnings in educating children and supporting those in need. To buy coffee from Abakundakawa is to purchase world-class beans while strengthening Rwanda's economic and social fabric. Shop Rwanda Abakundakawa here.
