Since the late 1980’s, numerous non-profits, for profits, and fair trade purveyors have been working at origin to help coffee farmers improve their lives. These programs have provided an unprecedented opportunity for small-scale growers. However, in spite of all these efforts, poverty is still a common fact of life at origin. In fact, for several months after the harvest most coffee farming families still go hungry. Unfortunately, the marketing messages promoted in supermarkets suggest far more than has actually been accomplished. The reality is that there will be no quick fixes at origin. It is a journey toward sustainability and it has only just begun.

In 2008, after 20 years of working with small-scale coffee farmers on grass roots development projects, I began my pursuit once again.  I created a new organization, The Coffee Trust®, and I pursued a different strategy.  The Coffee Trust invests the lion’s share of its energies and revenues in one country, Guatemala, and in one region, the coffee-producing region of Quiche known as the Ixil Triangle. This area, surrounded by San Gaspar Chajul, Santa Maria Nebaj and San Juan Cotzal, produces some of Guatemala’s finest coffee. But, the coffee producers in the region are poor, have little access to education, healthcare or economic opportunities. Their situation was intensified by a 30-year violent civil war and has been further complicated by the resulting mistrust, and deepening poverty.

The goal is not limited to sustainability for coffee-farmers. It is also to discover what can be accomplished under extremely difficult conditions with a widespread, well-funded, clearly focused effort. To accomplish this, I helped create and subsequently joined the board of Fundacion Ixil, a local NGO that supports grassroots development exclusively in the Ixil region. I have also called upon my trusted friends and donors for their support in this project.  In addition to making a significant impact in the region, it is my hope to share the results of our work with others who do similar work at origin. To this end, The Coffee Trust supports the following programs:

Academic Education supports middle school scholarships, high school scholarships, university scholarships and teacher training for primary school, middle school and high school teachers.
Vocational Education teaches auto-mechanics, food service, construction, robotics, carpentry, etc.
Healthcare Programs improve food security, nutrition, clean water, composting, and sanitation.  In addition, these programs offer training in medicinal herbs and traditional medicines, and also promote the use of efficient stoves to prevent respiratory diseases, and reduce the depletion of the rain forest.
Local Economic Development supports women’s savings, micro-credit, and micro-enterprise development, such as a women’s weaving cooperative, and honey production for coffee farmers.
Research Projects elsewhere in Guatemala seek innovative programs that could be used in the Ixil region.

The journey toward sustainability will be long and the incline steep. If we decide to make the journey, we are going to have to give the best of ourselves. Please join me.

Thank you very much,

Bill Fishbein, Founder & President
The Coffee Trust®

The Coffee Trust is a programmatic effort of the Global Community Trust, a 501(c)3 non-profit, Fed. Id. #80-0202426.  All contributions are tax deductible as provided by law.