• Uzuri African Blend
• Technoserve Partnership
• Meet the Farmers

Savings from coffee income promises a better future for Fausta’s children.

Sunday February 3rd, 2008 Rwanda suffered an earthquake registering 6.2 on the Richter Scale and large subsequent aftershocks. Many schools, churches, hospitals and houses were permanently destroyed or partly damaged.

One school completely destroyed was St. Francis Kibogora, where Habineza Odette, second-born of eight, was enrolled.

Habineza's mother, Fausta Nyirabirori, considers her daughter lucky because their coffee income allowed Habineza to continue her education after the school's destruction.

She refers repeatedly to the role of coffee income in her children’s education.

"After the earthquake, our daughter's school was destroyed and I had to relocate her. We would not consider postponing or ending her education. From coffee income savings, my husband and I were able to make a quick decision as to where we would transfer her. We agreed to use some of our coffee savings to move her to another school in Kigeme, about 150 kilometers away from home."

"Because I was once a teacher myself, I believe that girls also need an education, and while earning an income from coffee, I believe we can ensure our daughter attains a higher education."

In Nyamasheke, coffee is a key cash crop farmers rely on for economic stability. Fausta says "When I married my husband in 1986, he was a coffee farmer, and we planned to continue growing coffee throughout our married life." At the time Fausta, and Ephrem Nzeyimana had only 150 trees. They now have over 2000.

In 1986 their 150 trees yielded on average 300 kilos of coffee cherry. This was not enough to survive on and Fausta had to work outside the home. Over the years, they gradually added coffee and land with their savings, building up to their current holdings of 2000 plus trees.

Except for the earthquake, 2008 was a great year for the family. They joined Abangakurushwa cooperative and are now able to sell their harvest in cherry form, which requires less family labor.  Fausta says an added benefit of cooperative membership is she can sell her coffee at more stable prices than before.

Habineza, who returned to her old school after it was rebuilt, is currently the third best student in her class.

Meet the Farmers