Seven marathons in seven days; running for gender justice in coffee communities in eastern DRC
Twin has partnered with US based charity On The Ground to hold the country’s first ever ultra-marathon in May 2015. The Run Across Congo will support and celebrate the re-emergence of the country’s coffee industry after twenty years of civil war.
A team of women will run the seven marathons in seven days in the high-altitude and mountainous terrain along the shores of Lake Kivu between 24-30th May. After the marathons, the runners, coffee producers, international buyers and local villagers will enjoy a celebration of East-Kivu Congolese coffee. The festivities include a tour of local coffee co-operatives and a Cup of Congo Competition on June 2nd where local award-winning coffees will be tasted and enjoyed.
Joining an all-women running team on The Run Across Congo will be Twin’s Coffee Marketing Manager Richard Hide.
Twin’s Gender justice projects
In many countries, women provide the majority of the labour that goes into coffee production, but their contributions are often undervalued and invisible in the supply chain. Many women do not receive direct payment for the coffee they produce and are unable to make decisions about how to spend income. Moreover, the Kivu region of DRC has been afflicted by on-going war for decades and many women have suffered sexual violence as a result of this conflict which further de-stabilises their role in the community.
Twin works with women farmers to empower them in their families and in the farmer cooperatives. Projects are underway in Muungano co-operative and funds raised from the Run Across Congo will be used to create more opportunities for these women farmers to become entrepreneurs, have more control over decisions in their lives and the lives of their children. This will ultimately create a more promising future for coffee communities affected by the civil war in eastern DRC.
Program work will support farming communities in the following areas
Changing relationships in the family
Through participatory workshops women and men will explore how they currently make decisions and divide up work and income within the family. These workshops will lead to increased recognition and respect for the work that women do which results in more joint decision-making and equality on many issues including income, education and land ownership.
Establishing and supporting credit and savings groups
Through creating small groups for men and women to save money, and also receive credit, they are able to start investing in entrepreneurial ventures that will increase their income. Small-holder farmers are often unable to receive these services from local banks, therefore establishing credit and savings groups are a lifeline to create a better future for these communities.
Leadership training for women
Through participatory workshops and mentoring, women will be encouraged to form committees and represent their needs and ideas in the local community and at the farmer co-operative level.
