Description
Rwanda Hingakawa Women’s Coffee Cooperative. The Hingakawa (“Let’s Grow Coffee”) Association is actually only one half of the Abakundakawa-Rushashi (“Those Who Love Coffee”) Cooperative which was formed in 2004, becoming the first women’s farmer association of its kind in Rwanda. The other half of Abakundakawa Rushashi is the Dakundakawa (“We love Coffee”) Association, also 100% run by women. Both associations are located in the northern, mountainous regions of the Gakenke district, situated at 1700-1900 meters elevation and spread across five distinct zones.
This Rwanda Hingakawa Women’s Coffee is a bourbon varietal, washed and sun dried. This coffee from Hingakawa is the real life representation of the sacrifice and resolve of the female cooperative members who were daring enough to plant seeds of hope on the very same Rwanda hilltops where many lost their lives in a violent civil war. The two co-op associations employ both Hutu and Tutsi women, the two tribes who were infamously at the center of the heart wrenching conflict. After Rwanda’s coffee producing farms were for a time left deserted, several organizations began to assist in restarting production.
Hingakawa, as the name suggests, is more of a chant than it is a mere statement; it is a resolution to fight against poverty rather than each other, and with this sentiment they have been able to move forward and heal their community through cooperation and leadership. The journey of both the producers and product are fully traceable by a third party traceability verifier. The details to chain of custody tracking allow us to recognize the incredible women of the Rwanda Hingakawa Women’s Coffee Coop and understand what makes this coffee as special as it tastes.
Five Reported Missing After “Anomalous Incident” at Musical Performance
(Altamont, NY) Five persons are reported missing after what authorities are calling an anomalous distortion incident during a musical performance at the Four Winds Bar Thursday night. Witnesses reported a strange shimmering before the stage while the band, Stalk Forest Group, were playing their popular “five guitars” song. Some audience members reported seeing a flickering image of a wooded area and a strange figure through the shimmer. At the end of the song the shimmering evaporated and five people close to the stage had mysteriously disappeared. Some reported that the strange figure was seen exiting behind the bar. The band’s manager, Sandy Pearlman, stated that while he is sorry for the loss of the attendees, he couldn’t be happier with the success of the “happening”.
Authorities investigating the matter believe the anomalous distortion incident may be the result of certain unapproved experimental equipment used by the band. Jesse Python, a member of the band, said that the group may have to change their name as a result of the unfavorable publicity this event has caused.
