With Thanks to 37 Roasters, We’re Donating $20K to Coffee Kids

September 30, 2019

This International Coffee Day, we’re celebrating the 37 roasters that helped to support the future of coffee with their purchase of Honduras Coffee Kids UNIOCAFE! Encouraged by their purchases, we’re thrilled to announce a donation of $20,000 to the Coffee Kids program.

Coffee Kids UNIOCAFE comes from 33 young producers who participated in a Coffee Kids Rural Business Workshop, which encourages young people in coffee communities to consider their futures more entrepreneurially, by providing mentorship, capitol and agricultural and business training. To help further the program’s goal of reaching an additional 100 young people in Huehuetenango, Guatemala, we promised to pay 20¢ per pound for each pound of this coffee that was purchased this summer. Adding our own gift on top, we’re thrilled to offer a donation that goes well beyond that promise.

“Thanks to InterAmerican and Becamo, the exporter in Honduras, the youth of UNIOCAFE have been able to take the skills they gained through Coffee Kids and turn it into a successful product—delicious, quality coffee that’s ready for the specialty market!” says Joanna Fugiuele, director of Partnerships & Strategic Initiatives, with Coffee Kids.

“These youth are not only motivated to continue selling their coffee, they want more young adults to get involved,” she continues. “They’ve actively been working to recruit more members to get involved and gain access to training and financing. They are on target to double, if not triple, their numbers by the end of the year!”

Coffee Kids training

Graduates of the Coffee Kids program were excited to help train their peers in Huehuetenango.This year, 12 young adults completed a week-long training course facilitated by the youth and staff from the program in Trifinio.

“That training empowers these youth to train their peers in this new region in Huehuetenango, starting with a group in Unión Cantinil and expanding the Coffee Kids program,” adds Joanna.

“We’re now in our third year working with the Honduras UNIOCAFE Coffee Kids project, and it’s amazing to see their improvements on quality and yields, year after year,” says InterAmerican CEO Florian Benkhofer.

“We’re proud of what we’ve achieved together, and we’re excited to expand our cooperation and begin working with young producers in Huehuetenango, Guatemala,” he continues. “And of course, we’re much looking forward to many more years of working together to advance the future of coffee.”

Top photo: Celebrating new members of the UNIOCAFE youth committee.