Project Launch: Rwenzori Organic Coffee Farmers (ROCS)
The Giving Exchange has launched a new project in partnership with the the Rwenzori Organic Coffee Farmers Mountain Harvest Cooperative Limited (ROCS) aimed at improving the livelihoods of the most vulnerable members of the remote village of Kibisire, in Kasese District, Uganda. This initiative—the establishment of a Coffee Micro-Washing Station—will empower widows, the elderly, and young mothers, enabling them to thrive through sustainable coffee farming practices.
At its heart, ROCS has a mission: to uplift farmers by increasing their incomes through value-added coffee production, the promotion of coffee tourism, and access to sustainable specialty markets. This particular project is dedicated to helping vulnerable groups—widows, the elderly, and young mothers—take control of their future by providing them with the tools and infrastructure needed to process and sell their coffee at better prices.
Through this project, a central coffee micro-washing station will be established where local farmers can come together to pulp their red ripe coffee cherries. The station will be built with an eco-conscious twist, using water tanks constructed from recycled plastic bottles, a practice that reduces waste and promotes environmental sustainability (learn how TGE has successfully use this construction method in another Ugandan project here).
Direct Impact on the Kitabu Community
The project will directly benefit 200 elderly individuals and 55 young mothers who are registered members of the Kitabu Coffee Cooperative Movement. However, its positive ripple effects will extend beyond these numbers, as the washing station will serve as a resource for all coffee farmers in the region.
By bringing farmers together to process their coffee, the micro-washing station will not only serve as a place for value-added production but also as a hub for community collaboration, knowledge sharing, and collective growth. This initiative is about creating a sustainable economic future for Kitabu’s most vulnerable residents.
The micro-washing station will drastically reduce the high costs associated with processing coffee at distant locations, saving farmers up to 75% in pulping expenses. Additionally, it opens the door for collective marketing efforts, allowing farmers to present higher-quality coffee in specialty markets, thus attracting better prices from buyers.
Key Benefits Include:
Affordable pulping services: Farmers will access these services at a reduced cost, allowing them to enjoy higher margins from their coffee sales.
Community collaboration: Grouping farmers in one region at a central location for pulping creates a collective effort to maintain high coffee quality, leading to superior products on the market.
Eco-friendly practices: The project will turn coffee husks into fuel briquettes, reducing reliance on firewood and contributing to environmental conservation.
A Vision for the Future
The vision for this micro-washing station is not just short-term. The goal is to grow the center into a community-based coffee collection hub where farmers become shareholders in their own enterprise. This cooperative model will empower farmers, giving them ownership and increasing their stake in the success of the station.
This Coffee Micro-Washing Station is a community-driven effort that combines economic empowerment, environmental sustainability, and social equity. By supporting this project, The Giving Exchange is helping widows, young mothers, and the elderly take control of their financial futures, while promoting environmentally friendly practices that will benefit generations to come.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to see the power of coffee transform lives in Kitabu, Uganda.