Rwanda Sholi

Meaning “mutual assistance,” the Abateraninkunga ba Sholi (or simply “Sholi”) Cooperative was established in 2008. Located in the Southern Province at the center of Rwanda, Sholi Cooperative originated from a women’s association called Kundwa, which translates to “love” in the Kinyarwanda language. Currently almost half of Sholi’s 610 members are women. The women’s association still maintains two plots of land which together include over 6,300 coffee trees for harvesting and production. Sholi Cooperative currently has 400,000 coffee trees planted and continues to invest in long-term agricultural development. Community investment is also a primary focus for cooperative members. In 2016, Sholi received a grant that was used to build a community center and a regional health center for members and residents. This proved to be an invaluable addition to the community, since the next nearest health center is over 18km away. In 2015, the Cooperative received Fairtrade certification and funding, which Sholi used to begin an apiary project as well as distribute cows to members. In 2016, the Cooperative received Rainforest Alliance certification and then in 2020 they received Organic certification. The community surrounding Sholi Cooperative has seen tremendous improvements over the last ten years, and through continued coffee production, Sholi Cooperative can continue to support its members and community for years to come.