Let’s drive economic empowerment and climate action for women coffee growers and their families in Dabeiba, Antioquia.
The drastic decline in coffee crop productivity, the increase in landslides, and river overflows caused by climate change threaten the continuity of the project we started four years ago in Dabeiba, Antioquia, Colombia. We are a Colombian social enterprise founded by three women and one man. To date, we have supported several families in Dabeiba—primarily women—by strengthening their technical skills and ensuring fairer coffee commercialization.
We chose to work in Dabeiba because it is a highly biodiverse region in Colombia, with favorable conditions for producing high-quality coffee. In which, environmental awareness and a respectful relationship with the land are essential for its conservation. However, due to its remote location, coffee-growing families face challenges in accessing differentiated markets with better prices, as well as technical training and ongoing support to improve their environmental, quality, and productivity practices.
As one of the few initiatives working consistently and long-term in Dabeiba, we aim to create a greater impact in this community, especially among women coffee growers. They are our priority because, despite carrying out many of the farming tasks at home, they receive lower financial compensation and less recognition for their work.
With your support, we will be able to increase our access and presence in this community. We will go from one to five visits per year to conduct field schools with up to 40 women coffee growers and their families. These will be hands-on learning spaces where we analyze and address specific challenges in their crops. We will focus on increasing productivity through environmentally sustainable practices that preserve soil health, improving coffee quality, and determining fair pricing for their coffee.
We will also provide personalized, on-site support, visiting each farm, for 20 women-led families interested in producing exotic and high-specialty coffees. Additionally, we will conduct a training program for girls, young women, and women in the beneficiary group, focusing on economic empowerment and the prevention of gender-based violence.
As a result of this ongoing support, we aim to generate better incomes for women coffee growers and their families through direct coffee purchases. Higher payments will be possible as they achieve superior quality and distinctive flavors in their coffee, as well as through the adoption of environmentally sustainable practices—attributes that are valued at a premium in the markets we access. Additionally, implementing better environmental practices will help increase their resilience to extreme climate changes and contribute to mitigating the degradation of the natural ecosystem they inhabit.
And wait! One more reason to support us: We have also recently started working with women coffee growers in Cauca and Huila, regions similarly affected by the challenges of remote geography, extreme climate conditions, and armed conflict. By succeeding with this support model in Dabeiba, we will be able to expand these efforts to empower more women coffee growers and strengthen their communities.
My project is special because we will provide long-term support to these women and their communities
We are a team of four people with over 15 years of experience in social projects, working directly with local communities in remote and conflict-affected areas.
Over the years, we have learned that agricultural development projects do not create deep and lasting impact unless they result in direct sales to end customers at fair prices, reducing intermediaries in the supply chain. Providing training and knowledge is essential, but without actual sales, there are no real improvements in the quality of life for farming families.
That’s why we decided to create our company—to offer free technical, environmental, and community strengthening training, leaving installed capacity. But most importantly, to be able to purchase coffee and generate better income at the end of the process.
Additionally, this year we are launching commercial operations in Europe, with a hub in Switzerland, to open markets that ensure this commercial connection and better payments for producing families.
With your support, you will be financing not just a time-limited project, but long-term accompaniment. Our commitment is to maintain our presence in the region and be strategic partners of the communities, especially women, in their vision for local development.
I need support to stay present and consistently empower women coffee growers!
Your donation will make it possible for us to carry out five trips to Dabeiba over the course of a year, from harvest to harvest. To get there, we will travel 590 kilometers, which, due to poor road conditions, can take up to 16 hours by land.
During these visits, we will hold in-person workshops with experts, benefiting 160 women coffee growers and their families. We will also conduct personalized farm-by-farm visits with 20 women coffee growers, which can take up to three hours on foot or by mule to reach the most remote homes. In these visits, we will work on regenerative agriculture, fermentation processes, and the promotion of exotic coffee varieties to enhance high-quality specialty coffee production.
The four members of our company will lead workshops based on our expertise: Juan Santamaria (Quality and production), Carolina Rodríguez (Environmental practices), Claudia Patiño (Economic empowerment) and Samara Casallas (Women’s leadership and violence prevention)
Additionally, throughout the year, we will provide ongoing virtual support to the families, answering questions and offering guidance. Part of the funds will also be allocated to purchasing and delivering supplies, such as fertilizers and exotic coffee seeds.