We’ve proudly partnered with the Rambagirakawa cooperative since 2021, and we’re excited to share this year’s exceptional offering. Founded in 2012 in Gakenke in Rwanda’s Northern Province, Rambagirakawa is a women-led cooperative made up of 200 members. It operates as a subgroup of the larger Dukundekawa cooperative, which includes roughly 1,400 farmers.
The name Rambagirakawa translates from Kinyarwanda to “women owning and growing coffee trees professionally.” The group was created to promote greater gender equity within the Dukundekawa cooperative while strengthening opportunities for women producers.
Members receive ongoing training and educational resources that support consistent, high-quality coffee production. Farmers are trained in careful harvesting techniques, selecting only perfectly ripe cherries and properly sorting them before delivering the coffee to the washing station for processing. Quality control is also a major focus, supported by tools such as an on-site cupping lab where trained cuppers evaluate coffee and help determine its quality and potential market value.
Beyond coffee production, Rambagirakawa prioritizes education, entrepreneurship, and community support. During the off-season, members generate additional income by weaving and selling traditional Agaseke baskets. In 2019, the cooperative also launched the Days for Girls initiative, which provides feminine hygiene supplies to young women in surrounding communities.
These efforts reflect Rambagirakawa’s broader mission: strengthening the well-being, independence, and success of women throughout the community. We are proud to once again offer this coffee and celebrate the remarkable work behind it.
