Survivors Coffee

In the heart of the South Kivu mountains, on the volcanic hills overlooking Lake Kivu at an altitude of 1,500 to 2,000 meters, thousands of small-scale farmers have been cultivating specialty Arabica coffee for generations, renowned for its exceptional quality. For these families, coffee is not simply a cash crop: it is their heritage, their main source of income, and their hope for a better future.

Torrential rains caused devastating floods in the villages of Bushushu and Nyamukubi, claiming over five thousand lives and destroying homes, crops, livestock, businesses, and the livelihoods of thousands of families. Among the victims were many members of KACCO (Kalehe Arabica Coffee Cooperative). Following this tragedy, KACCO identified over 680 directly affected farming families, including hundreds of widows and orphans who lost loved ones, their land, and their livelihoods.

For more than three decades, the communities of Kalehe have lived amidst armed conflict, displacement, and natural disasters. Despite these hardships, they continue to cultivate their coffee with passion each season, convinced that this land can still offer a future for their children.

Created in 2024 by KACCO with the support of its business partners African Coffee Connect and Keynote Coffee, the first batch of coffee under this "SURVIVORS COFFEE" brand was purchased at the best prices to date from Assembly Coffee and Pact Coffee. This brand not only sells exceptional coffee, but also tells the story of women, men, and children who survived one of the greatest humanitarian disasters in the recent history of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and who chose to rebuild their lives rather than abandon their land.

For every kilogram of coffee sold, USD 0.25 is voluntarily allocated to a social impact fund, thanks to contributions from partner roasters or a portion of the cooperative's profit margin. These resources support Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) to enable surviving families to access small loans to restart their economic activities, rebuild their self-reliance, and regain their dignity. A portion of these revenues is also invested in tree planting to restore degraded landscapes, protect soils, and strengthen the climate resilience of the Kalehe region.

Choosing SURVIVORS COFFEE is not just about enjoying a high-altitude Arabica with remarkable aromatic qualities. It's about enabling a widow to rebuild her business, giving an orphan a chance to continue their education, restoring the landscapes of South Kivu, and investing directly in the resilience of thousands of rural families. Because behind each cup lies much more than a flavor of Kivu — it is also a life being rebuilt, a story of hope that continues to be written, one harvest after another.