The Starbucks Foundation has supported Mercy Corps Indonesia to empower women in coffee farming communities through the Bentani Brewing Change program: Women’s Empowerment in Coffee Origin Communities, which focuses on disaster mitigation planning, climate change, and economic development.
“The goal is for Starbucks to empower women more. As one of Starbucks’ aspirations and goals, we provide benefits to around one million women worldwide to participate in related programs or receive benefits,” said Public Relations & CSR Division Manager Kiki Mochamad Rizki in Bandung, West Java, on Wednesday.
Empowering women in coffee farming communities is done by providing funding to communities, both directly related to coffee plantations and those that are not. Currently, empowerment is being carried out in Cimaung and Ciwidey, coffee-producing areas in Bandung Regency, West Java.
The Starbucks Foundation has allocated around 1 million US dollars or approximately Rp15.9 billion for the Bentani program. The program is currently in its second phase, and Mercy Corps Indonesia has received additional funding from the Starbucks Foundation to support more women in communities in Bandung Regency, Garut, West Bandung, and an additional area in Dairi Regency, North Sumatra.
On the same occasion, Mercy Corps Program Coordinator for Indonesia Navita Hani Restuningrum mentioned that the target participants in this phase have increased to 3,700, showing the success of Bentani’s approach in supporting the economic resilience of women coffee farmers.
Bentani has three main objectives: it is committed to improving health quality by providing health education and WASH facilities (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene). Bentani also aims to enhance financial literacy for women in coffee communities so they can access formal and informal financial services such as banks, cooperatives, and other banking products.
Furthermore, the program supports the promotion of economic opportunities for women coffee farmers to help them develop businesses without abandoning coffee farming, by providing online business training and digital marketing.
Through the program, coffee derivative products like tea made from coffee husks can be marketed online to generate additional income. Additionally, the program encourages the processing of coffee ingredients into other products to increase the added value of coffee products.
The Bentani program not only aims to improve the well-being of women coffee farmers but also to provide them with opportunities to develop businesses and increase income without leaving their roots as coffee farmers.
Source: ANTARA News