07/09/2026 · KACCO
In the hills of Kalehe, in the heart of South Kivu, specialty coffee is much more than an agricultural crop. Behind every cup are families, women and men who work patiently to produce quality coffee, but also a story of resilience, dignity and hope.
Among the women who contribute daily to the vitality of this sector is Judith Linjaja, from the village of Bushushu and a member of the Board of Directors of the Kalehe Arabica Coffee Cooperative (KACCO). A producer, community leader, and active participant in her cooperative, Judith embodies this generation of women who are playing an increasingly important role in the production and promotion of specialty coffee in Kivu.
A woman committed to quality
For Judith, the quality of coffee begins long before the cup. It starts in the field, at harvest time, and continues during the sorting of the cherries.
Through her role within KACCO, she actively participates in mobilizing the women members and the wives of the producers, raising their awareness of the importance of harvesting fully ripe cherries and delivering carefully sorted coffee.
This work may seem simple, but it is crucial. A well-selected cherry helps preserve the quality of the coffee throughout the entire processing chain. Conversely, unripe or poor-quality cherries can affect the aromatic profile and final quality of the coffee.
“For us, quality begins in our fields. We encourage women to select only fully ripe cherries and to sort them carefully. We know that every cherry we deliver can make a difference in the quality of the coffee that the consumer will find in their cup,” explains Judith Linjaja.
Through this close collaboration, Judith helps people understand that quality is not just a commercial requirement. It is the result of a collective commitment, from the field to the cup.
When coffee contributes to the well-being of families
Behind the specialty coffee produced by KACCO members are thousands of families whose income depends in part on the sale of their produce.
Every kilogram of coffee sold represents a contribution to these households’ daily lives: food, children’s education, healthcare, housing, clothing, and other essential needs.
When producers improve the quality of their coffee and gain access to better markets, it's not just production volumes or commercial performance that increase. It's the living conditions of families that can gradually improve.
Women play a vital role in this dynamic. They participate in agricultural work, cherry sorting, household income management, and community mobilization. Their contribution is economic, social, and familial.
For Judith, this reality gives even more meaning to her commitment:
“Coffee means a lot to our families. When we sell our coffee, this income allows us to meet the needs of our children and our households. That's why we must take care of our coffee and work together to improve its quality. As women, we also want to show that we have an important role to play in the future of our cooperative and our community.”
Judith, a Voice for the Women of Bushushu and Kalehe
In Bushushu, Judith is one of those women who demonstrate that female leadership can directly contribute to the transformation of a rural community.
Her involvement on the KACCO Board of Directors also allows her to amplify women's voices in the spaces where decisions concerning the cooperative's future are made.
She doesn't just produce coffee. She helps organize, raise awareness, mobilize, and encourage other women to take their place in the value chain.
Her journey reminds us that women should not be seen solely as laborers on family farms. They are producers, entrepreneurs, leaders, and essential contributors to the quality and resilience of the coffee sector.
From Cherry to Cup: A Story of Women and Families
When consumers taste a specialty coffee from the Kalehe hills, they discover much more than just an aromatic profile.
They discover the work of thousands of producers. They discover the hands that harvested the cherries, the women who helped sort them, the families who depend on this activity, and the communities striving to build a better future despite the challenges.
Judith Linjaja's story is that of one woman among many. But her commitment highlights a fundamental truth: behind the exceptional quality of a coffee are people who work every day to make it possible.
Supporting specialty coffee from Kivu is therefore also supporting the women who produce it, the families who depend on it, and the communities that invest in it.
