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THIS COFFEE STANDS

FOR WOMEN

In a recent interview Connie Kolosvary, who is
the Director of the Café Femenino Program
remineded us that "in many coffee growing
countries there is 70% domestic abuse of
women".

This alone was not the root cause of the
invisibility of women working on coffee
plantations. Kolosvary continued "women were

treated kind of like possessions. They did the
majority of the work in the home and on the
farm. But once the beans were dried and ready
to go to market, the men would be the ones

who transported [the beans] and sold the
coffee and then that money ended up with the
men.

Because, in their culture, the men are the ones
who controlled all the money and made the
financial decisions. The men would use the
income for their entertainment first and then

the remaining would go to the family. They’re
not bad guys, it’s just the way things were."

The story is long, however Kolosvary wants us to remember " Café Femenino

has done so much to change the lives of women in the countries where there
are Café Femenino Programs. When Café Femenino women’s groups meet
they talk about problems and solutions. They come up with project ideas,

submit a proposal for funding to the Café Femenino Foundation and then they
themselves execute and administer the projects. Café Femenino provides the
framework for a unique coffee supply chain that creates space for women
coffee farmers to shine."

Learn more at cafefemenino.com MARCH/APRIL 2023 | ISSUE 29

or contact OPTCO at sales@optco.com

www.beveragestandardsassociation.co.uk