Rwanda
Agaseke Women's Group
The women of Agasekeare members of the Kopakaki Dutegere cooperative. They have long been leaders and decision-makers within the cooperative, but only recently, 2017, decided to form a group. They asked the parent cooperative to process their coffee separately on a specific day of the week. This separation at the time of processing is necessary in order to allow traceability to the women’s group. Now their coffee can be marketed as “women’s coffee.”
The women chose the name “Agaseke” because this is the name of a classic basket in Rwanda, easily recognizable by it’s pointy top. These baskets are used to bring gifts! On a wedding day, for example, it’s not uncommon to see folks dressed in their best clothes, walking to the wedding with these beautiful Agaseke (pointed baskets) balanced on their heads.
