Bonswa, Sah-Wat-Dee, Muraho, Hello!
Haiti? Thailand? Rwanda! We are the Rwandan Coffee Company, right? Well, yes and no!
Rwanda
When I first sensed God’s invitation to start the coffee project almost seven years ago, it was with the goal of impacting Rwandan coffee farmers by doing good. Together we have helped thousands of farmers and their families in Rwanda. Orphans are being fed, homes are being built, and coffee is being harvested!
Haiti
In 2010, Haiti was hit by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. I remember watching the news and wondering how we could help. Haiti was once one of the world’s largest producers of coffee. It is interesting to note that both Rwanda and Haiti have a population 10 to 12 million people who underwent a horrible tragedy and have begun to experience healing and reconciliation through coffee.
I first asked our friends in Rwanda to pray. Then I went on a coffee-hunt to Haiti and met with farmers in Marmelade and Chadirack. In March of 2011, we roasted our first Haitian Bleu coffee, Café Marmelade. We are now building relationships and making a difference. We have recently distributed nearly 100,000 coffee seedlings to the Haitian people.
Thailand
Earlier this year we began exploring a new Community Trade™ partnership with farmers in Thailand who are working hard to grow coffee and provide for their families. My friend, Fraser, from Bright Hope World, asked if we would consider inviting these Thai farmers into the Drink Coffee. Do Good™ story. The same farmers that were once enslaved through the drug trade of opium poppies are today growing coffee, making a sustainable living, and protecting their daughters from the sex traders.
Together, we are now engaging in Community Trade in Rwanda, Haiti and Thailand. Literally tens of thousands of farmers and their families are now experiencing a better life, and we get to drink a good cup of coffee.
Expanding our Community Trade model also allows us to now provide you with seasonally fresh coffee. Coffee, like any other fruit, is seasonal and best when fresh. The green coffee will have a shelf life of around 10 months. In line with our seasonal offerings, I am proud to announce that our first container of Ruli Mountain coffee has arrived from Rwanda and initial orders will be delivered next week.
As we drink Rwandan, Haitian, and Thai coffee together, we will continue to seek to do good wherever God gives us the opportunity.
Mesi, Khawp Khun, Murakoze, Thank you.
You are doing good!
Jonathan D. Golden, Founder
