The joint project between amka and Caffè Speciali Certificati (CSC) was launched in Petatán in September 2020 with the goal of strengthening the production and marketing skills of local women coffee producers. This is intended to bring about a sustainable improvement in the living conditions of indigenous women in Guatemala. The direct beneficiaries of the project are 80 women who face particularly difficult socioeconomic conditions.
The project gave rise to the Ix Axol Women’s Cooperative, a legal entity that coordinates relationships with customers, orders, and the marketing and distribution of coffee. At the same time, the cooperative has succeeded in producing high-quality coffee and selling it at a fair price. As a result, the economic situation of each individual project participant has improved significantly.
Click here for the report on the first Meeting of the Ix Axol Women's Cooperative.
Thanks to higher compensation compared to the standard market price and ongoing support and training, the women feel, for the first time, that they are being noticed, recognized, and valued. In a society where women’s rights are still frequently disregarded, the project simultaneously lays the foundation for profound change. Economic independence is a particularly important step. Payment for the coffee is made exclusively directly to the women. This is a deliberate acknowledgment that they themselves should benefit from their work and have control over the income they generate. Monthly meetings are also held, organized and facilitated by the local amka team. These safe spaces for interaction strengthen the women’s solidarity, foster exchange and a sense of community, and support processes of self-determination and empowerment.
The project’s greatest success is that the women have found the courage to organize themselves, raise their voices, and stand up together for their rights and economic independence.
Blasercafé sourced a portion of the green coffee harvest and used it to create the Maya coffee. This limited-edition blend has a fruity, well-balanced flavor and evokes notes of orange, stone fruit, caramel, nuts, and chocolate.
Amka is a volunteer organization that was founded in 2001 out of the encounter between two different cultures and a shared desire to sustainably improve the living conditions of people in the Global South. The organization works in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Guatemala on projects in the areas of water, health, employment, and education—all of which are fundamental rights and prerequisites for a life of dignity. The name “Amka” comes from Swahili and means “Stand up” or “Rise up.” It is a call to action and active participation. The organization is convinced that change begins with awareness and an objective view of the realities of life that are far removed from our everyday existence.
Since its founding in 1996, CSC—Caffè Speciali Certificati—has pursued the goal of promoting the quality and culture of high-quality coffees and working together to create certified premium coffee. Company representatives regularly visit producers in various coffee-growing countries. Close, long-term partnerships are forged through mutual respect, professionalism, and collaboration. CSC coffees are genuine single-estate coffees and can be identified by a numbered anti-counterfeiting seal on each package. In addition, CSC holds ISO 22005 certification, which guarantees full traceability throughout the entire value chain—from the coffee cherry to the packaging.
