The Chapters of
Women in Coffee
Coffee is female: 70% of the coffee workforce are women, yet only 25% of world coffee farms are run by women. That is why in 2018, Carolina Vergnano launched this women-focused social sustainability initiative.
The project has since evolved, widening its mandate and becoming an inclusive vessel for broader women-focused social iniatives supporting culture and education, two fundamental tools in terms of driving emancipation and creating value. Since its inception in 2018, Women in Coffee has made a tangible difference on the international stage with diverse projects. Discover the ongoing narrative of this inspiring story, in which each chapter builds on the last.
Female empowerment is a key theme of Women in Coffee and this is addressed through activities designed to foster growth, self-determination and improvement.
Chapter 1
Dominican Republic
The very first funded project was the purchase of a roasting machine that formed the basis of a small business run by 20 women in the Hondo Valle county of the Dominican Republic.
Caffè Vergnano provided financial assistance for building a laboratory where coffee from the plantations of the Hondo Valley can be roasted, ground, and packed. These plantations are managed by the ADOMUCA association, which consists of women.
For the First Chapter we collected
10.000,00€
Chapter 2
Honduras
Our second fundraising, started in 2021, led to the creation of a library for the community of Cual Bicicleta in Marcala, Honduras.
The “Family Rural Library”, which was completed in the summer of 2023, is a gathering place for women to achieve their full potential, for children to study, learn and have fun and for families to come together. Additionally, members of the International Women’s Coffee Alliance can use the library as a meeting place.
This is a space where people can share their ideas and projects, and their dreams can come true with support from Caffè Vergnano and the local communities. It’s a place for positive transformation and inspiration for everyone.
For the second chapter we collected
15.000 €
Chapter 3
Honduras
The ongoing fundraising will allow a further development of the project in Honduras: we will provide them with the equipment for the library, we will build a café with an outdoor space and a local Academy for training. These facilities will allow us the opportunity to support didactically the community who will gather at the library as well as to give them further tools for both professional and personal growth.
For the third chapter we have collected
15.000 €
Next Steps
In 2024 we aspire to build a ‘bridge’ of dialogue and exchange with women involved in the coffee industry. To achieve this, we plan to ’embark on a journey’ with our training center, the Accademia Vergnano, reaching out to all the countries involved in the project. Our aim is to establish smaller Academies to support these women and their communities, thereby investing in their future.
