The Kula Project in Rwanda — $25,000 for coffee farmer fellowships and savings circles. Odette increased her coffee yields; a family achieved school for all children through a micro-business loan.
The Kula Project aims to increase the prosperity of the very smallest and poorest coffee growing households in Rwanda. JCF provided $25,000 for their Fellowship program — a year-long program teaching better coffee agronomy and small business skills. They also coordinate "savings circles" where 25 households pool money matched by Kula for seed funding.
We visited the farm of Odette, who told us how her family had increased both the number of coffee trees and their yield because of what she learnt during her fellowship year. Then we visited a family who used a savings circle loan to establish a feed supply business — becoming the local supplier to their village and neighbours. This micro-business enabled them to send all four children to school and afford health insurance.
Huge thanks to Jackie, Fred and Alain for allowing us to witness firsthand the life changing impact the Kula Project is having on some of the most needy and motivated families in Rwanda.
Anne Gripper
Sunshine Coast, QLD
JCF Board member and Foundation administrator. Coordinates funding partnerships across Sunshine Coast, North East Victoria, East Africa, and Papua New Guinea.
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