In Tanzania just south west of Kenya, down the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro, lives the Chagga tribe. This ethnic group is made up of small-scale farmers, specializing mainly in growing bananas, maize, and coffee for commercial sale. Bananas and maize are grown all year round as the villagers’ stable; however, the coffee is a seasonal crop. Banana plantation is often grown alongside with coffee plant to help protect the coffee from sometimes harsh equatorial sun.
Tanzania has more than 120 tribes. Chagga is one of the largest tribes and is considered the most progressive in the world of agriculture. As member of the Chagga tribe, I was taught at a young age that coffee cultivation is an important part of our social and economic structure. Land tenure and maintenance becomes our utmost responsibility for honouring the Chagga traditions, and the betterment of our current and future generations of farmers. Inheritance of the land is passed down based on birth right, the oldest to the youngest family member.
My passion has been to share destinies and to empower others, especially those who are less fortunate; and specifically, women, and to become a part of each other’s lives. I believe that, when women are empowered, they address and solve many of the important issues in our communities. I decided that through an exceptional cup of coffee, I can maximize the impact and provide support to the community.
In Tanzania, just like many other African countries, manual farming is considered women’s work; but they make less than their men counterparts. With your support, we’ve continued to make meaningful progress in changing the lives of many local community members around the region.
The communities in the Kilimanjaro region are the key to the success of my passion and the company mission. We are determined to provide a pathway to economic stability to our small farmers and their families through education, training, and improvement of medical and healthcare facilities. By doing this, we will be involving women in our community improvements and economic stability.
-Asante sana .B
