STiR coffee and tea magazine

STiR coffee and tea 41 www.flavourtech.com cold brew & Full Flavour c re at e ready-to-drink co f f e e the spinning cone column Naturally Silvana Novais, an agronomist with the National Rural Apprenticeship Service (SENAR), encourages small producers in Minas Gerais, Brazil to invest in learning to grow specialty coffee In Matas de Minas (Brazil) where the National Rural Apprenticeship Service (SENAR) started a coffee quality program three years ago, coffee quality improved gradually after wives began attending training sections with their husbands. "While or- ganizing them in smaller groups, I noticed a big quantity of women interested in getting some education," said SENAR regional manager Silvana Novais. According to Novais, these rural family workshops completely changed women's lives. They now know their product and how to negotiate with confidence. Their cof- fees quality is awarded top scores by both the Cup of Excellence and Illy Café. Rural restraints The lack of services and infrastructure in some countries can severely limit women's involvement in employment opportunities. In some regions of Africa women spend lots of energy on household tasks such as child care, and obtaining water and food. In South and Central America, obstacles are no less formidable. In Cauca, Co- lombia, women face the threat of domestic violence. "We are gradually overcoming this problem with professional help. After meetings, some husbands are willing to change," said Elizabeth Trujillo, manager of the Women Coffee Association in Cauca (AMUCC). This is not exclusive to Colombia. According Novais, the problem exists in many places, but not officially. Family counselors attend technical workshops "as a practical way to work out sensitive issues with the whole family," said Novais. Movements to recognize what women can accomplish are blossoming in many parts of the world. Organizations such as International Women's Coffee Alliance (IWCA), Café Feminino Foundation and Women of Coffee Microfinance Fund are all helping women on family farms in many rural areas. In Costa Rica, the Women Care Certificate was developed to assure consumers that coffee is produced by women and that profits from sales wind up in their hands. Meth- ods and focus differ, but they are united by one goal: to promote gender equity. The AMUCC helps women to run a family business. Of special concern are those suddenly

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