Coffee transformed her life — and the lives of women from her village in Uganda
Summary
Meridah Nandudu, from Mbale, Uganda, founded Bayaaya Specialty Coffee, a company that buys coffee beans directly from over 600 women farmers. This initiative helps women in her village gain financial independence and overcome traditional gender roles in coffee farming.Key Facts
- Meridah Nandudu could not find a job after graduating with a degree in social work and turned to coffee as a business idea.
- She founded Bayaaya Specialty Coffee in Mbale, Uganda.
- More than 600 women farmers now sell their coffee beans directly to her company.
- Coffee farming in her area is traditionally male-dominated, with men historically preventing women from selling coffee.
- Women in the village perform much of the work to grow coffee but are often not allowed to sell it.
- Nandudu's efforts aim to help women achieve financial independence and reduce domestic violence, as financial dependence on husbands contributed to abuse.
- Growing up, Nandudu witnessed violence in her village, especially during the coffee harvest season.
- Her initiative challenges local beliefs, such as the notion that coffee affects women's fertility.
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