On the serene shores of Idjwi, a remote island nestled in the middle of Lake Kivu in eastern Congo, a vision was born. Marcelline Budza, inspired by the resilience of her own mother, founded Rebuild Women’s Hope (RWH) in 2013. Her dream? To place women at the heart of her community’s development and to inspire a nation with the belief that “building the hope of women is building the hope of the entire nation.”

RWH’s impact extends far beyond coffee. By providing interest-free, pre-harvest loans, the cooperative gives farmers much-needed financial flexibility, allowing them to repay in cash or cherries during harvest. This program counters the often exploitative credit systems prevalent in the region. Additionally, RWH has initiated a nursery program to replace aging bourbon trees, ensuring sustainability for future generations of coffee farmers.

The cooperative’s investments in its community are equally transformative. In 2020, RWH completed a maternal and pediatric clinic, a lifeline for families on the island, and opened a women’s center offering training in literacy, business skills, and income-generating activities like sewing. To further empower its members, RWH introduced an incentive program, rewarding farmers who meet cherry delivery thresholds with livestock such as goats or cows, bolstering household incomes and food security.

RWH’s meticulous coffee processing practices ensure exceptional quality. With four washing stations along Lake Kivu’s shores, farmers deliver cherries from altitudes of up to 2,000 meters. These cherries undergo careful sorting, depulping, and an 8-hour wet soak with running water before drying on raised beds for up to 24 days. The result is a coffee renowned for its notes of chocolate, brown sugar, baking spice, and vanilla, with a citric acidity and syrupy body.

Despite challenges such as market access and logistical hurdles, RWH remains unwavering in its mission. By centering women in every aspect of its operations, from coffee production to community development, RWH embodies the belief that empowering women strengthens entire communities. Their unwavering commitment is evident in every cup of coffee and every step forward, making RWH a beacon of hope and resilience.