Women’s Coffee by IWCA

Today, Thursday, November 25, is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

The topic is very sensitive and requires sensitivity and a thorough knowledge of the correct language to use. That is why I do not go into the phenomenon, because I do not feel aware enough to treat it with due respect.

However, on the occasion of this very important Day, we at Ernani wanted to present a project we believe in so much: IWCA.

But what is IWCA?

It stands for the International Alliance of Women in Coffee.

Specifically, IWCA is a nonpartisan and inclusive organization that does not consider gender, religion or political thoughts. The IWCA welcomes everyone, including individual organizations, private or public.

The only limitation is the sharing of a common end goal: to protect the rights of every worker and to strengthen the garrison of women in the coffee community.

The key aspect, therefore, is that it ensures that everyone has the opportunity to carry out a dignified, sustainable and meaningful life, with particular regard precisely to women.

You should know in fact that, like almost all industries, the most exploited and underpaid workers are those at the bottom, in this case therefore the farmers.

They have no stable contract or minimum wage, no rights that we take for granted here in Italy, and often no healthy housing for themselves and their families, with no running water or electricity.

But guess who is on the lowest step still? Woman.

She receives lower pay than the man’s already paltry pay, is not entitled to maternity leave, and much more. Women often work with babies on their backs looking for 10 minutes every so often to devote to breastfeeding, possibly on the sly so as not to be fired.

This is what the IWCA is all about: identifying the most at-risk situations in the world and fighting to protect workers, with particular sensitivity to women.

All to encourage and recognize women’s participation in all aspects of this traditionally extremely male-dominated industry, as well as to help them lead better lives.

Concrete examples may be just such things as higher pay and especially adjusted to the cost of living, greater respect and protection of their rights, or the construction of in-plantation kindergartens where they can leave their children while working or even the possibility of healthy housing at affordable prices.

The core values of the association are:

• Respect for people and their ideas;
• Economic and social sustainability;
• Equity in the distribution of world resources;
• Collaboration between communities and top management of corporate properties;
• The greater empowerment of each person’s personal resources;
• Inclusion of all: women, men and youth, to make a positive impact on their communities.

If you’ve been following us for a while you’ve probably heard about our Women’s Cafe >> from the Cachoeira farm in Brazil, grown by a group of strong, determined women who control every step of the production process, from tending the plant to harvesting and processing the raw coffee. The company is a member of the IWCA.