Belancan Yeast Honey, from Kintamani, Bali
The Belancan Yeast Honey lot comes from Belancan Village, Kintamani, Bali, Indonesia, and is produced by Kanggo
Mama Sierra, led by Sirley Pulgarin of The Coffee Quest Colombia, is a remarkable project empowering women coffee farmers in the community of Giraldo, Antioquia.
With 15 motivated members, the project began in March 2021, initiated by Yessica Parra and later taken forward by Sirley. The goal has always been to break barriers limiting women’s access to resources and training in coffee production.
The coffee is mainly Castillo and Caturra varieties, grown at an altitude range of 1900-2200 m.a.s.l. and processed through washing and wet fermentation.
The Coffee Quest decided to set up a traineeship program to introduce the members to different fields:
- Empowerment & Leadership,
- Production & Process Improvement,
- Business Management.
Agents of change
Giraldo, a small town in Antioquia, faced challenges due to a high level of mistrust between sellers and producers. However, after two years of running the Mama Sierra project, we are happy to see significant transformations. The women have become more self-determined, managing their farms and profits independently. Thanks to training by The Coffee Quest Team in Colombia, the coffee’s quality has also improved.
Sirley Pulgarin is leading efforts to organize the female producers into an association, fostering growth, self-determination, and education. The project provides training in 3 different fields, empowering female farmers to become agents of change in their communities through coffee production.
Mama Sierra represents a remarkable revolution in empowering women and improving their livelihoods through coffee production. As Marco Marín, our impact project manager, and The Coffee Quest team seek supporters in Colombia and Europe to expand this initiative, the project continues to empower and uplift the community, creating a sustainable and prosperous future.
Addressing community needs, The Coffee Quest installed two new water treatment systems in Giraldo to enhance residents’ health and well-being. Although partially funded, the project aims to uplift the lives of all Giraldo’s inhabitants.
Currently, the program has evolved to encompass more than just coffee production and quality improvement. Leadership workshops and training in organic vegetable gardening provide the women with diverse perspectives on community interactions and home improvements. They have learned to produce their organic vegetables, utilizing household and coffee waste as compost for their crops, fostering food security and sovereignty.
Looking ahead, additional workshops on food transformation and cooking will commence, empowering the women to generate income from multiple sources, reducing dependency on coffee harvests.
1. Maria Leidy Lorenzana
2. Liliana Maritza Manco
3. Ana Teresa Manco
4. Aura Rosa Manco
5. Loaida Patrica Lopez
6. Sandra Lopez
7. Linda Mildrey Manco
8. Sirley Eleani Pulgarin
9. Arneida Manco
10. Yorleny Andrea Pulgarin
11. Yakeline Manco Garces
12. Maria Eugenia Serna
13. Karina Garces Usuga
14. Ana Delis Campo
15. Maria Elid Perez Lopez
If you want to learn more about the project and its achievements, click the button below!
Coffee With Added Value
At The Coffee Quest, transparency is key—If you have any questions regarding our coffees, do not hesitate to reach out! We also encourage you to review our Impact Report for an in-depth look at our sustainable sourcing practices and projects.
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While you are here, discover other coffees!
Belancan N2 Anaerobic Natural, from Kintamani, Bali
The Belancan N2 Anaerobic Natural lot comes from Belancan Village, Kintamani, Bali, Indonesia, and is produced by Kanggo, a coffee farmer with 5 hectares of land at elevations of 1,200 to 1,400 meters above sea level
Manikliyu Honey, from Kintamani, Bali
The Manikliyu Honey lot comes from Manikliyu Village, Kintamani, Bali, Indonesia, and is produced by Mudar, a coffee grower whose family has cultivated coffee for generations.
Eka’s Wet-Hull, from Kintamani, Bali
The Eka’s Wet-Hull lot comes from Dausa Village, Kintamani, Bali, Indonesia, and is produced by Eka, a second-generation coffee grower who inherited his farm from his father.