Stories of Change
Oliva Kishera, Coffee farmer
Oliva Kishero - women involved in decision making
“Now we have a committee; we have transparency; we have democracy. Our society empowers women. Here in Uganda, women are not involved in decision-making – but we do all the work.”
Oliva is the treasurer of Gumutindo Coffee Cooperative and regularly visits women farmers in other coffee societies to train them on how to plan and to improve the quality of their coffee. Gradually, she says, men are beginning to admire those homes with empowered women.
Oliva first encountered Gumutindo in 1998. “Then we were just individual farmers. In 2000 we joined together as a society. Andy Carlton (from Twin Trading a U.K fair trade organisation) came here and talked to people about empowerment. Men farmers began to see the value of women – and women began to join the society and elect women to the committee. Women understand quality – we are hard-working. But much more effort is needed to train our women and men together to understand this.”
In Uganda, men traditionally take all the money – and do all the talking. Gumutindo, however, has a policy that 50 per cent of all seats on committees should be taken by women.
Another woman Lakeli Namona says that when women are organised and can sell their coffee in bulk, they get more money and their lives improve. “If you sell alone you have no bargaining power, but with bulk you have a big voice to bargain with. In the Gumutindo Cooperative, farmers are organised and get a fair price. Women can talk about their needs and find a way to solve them together.”
Trade Aid purchases coffee from the Gumutindo Coffee Cooperative and on-sells to NZ roasters for sale in fair trade blends across the country.
Extract from an interview with Carol Wills, chairperson of Britain’s Oxford Fair Trade Coalition after her visit to the cooperative.
Oliva is the treasurer of Gumutindo Coffee Cooperative and regularly visits women farmers in other coffee societies to train them on how to plan and to improve the quality of their coffee. Gradually, she says, men are beginning to admire those homes with empowered women.
Oliva first encountered Gumutindo in 1998. “Then we were just individual farmers. In 2000 we joined together as a society. Andy Carlton (from Twin Trading a U.K fair trade organisation) came here and talked to people about empowerment. Men farmers began to see the value of women – and women began to join the society and elect women to the committee. Women understand quality – we are hard-working. But much more effort is needed to train our women and men together to understand this.”
In Uganda, men traditionally take all the money – and do all the talking. Gumutindo, however, has a policy that 50 per cent of all seats on committees should be taken by women.
Another woman Lakeli Namona says that when women are organised and can sell their coffee in bulk, they get more money and their lives improve. “If you sell alone you have no bargaining power, but with bulk you have a big voice to bargain with. In the Gumutindo Cooperative, farmers are organised and get a fair price. Women can talk about their needs and find a way to solve them together.”
Trade Aid purchases coffee from the Gumutindo Coffee Cooperative and on-sells to NZ roasters for sale in fair trade blends across the country.
Extract from an interview with Carol Wills, chairperson of Britain’s Oxford Fair Trade Coalition after her visit to the cooperative.
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