Thank you for choosing &BACK
Empowering women coffee farmers from bean-to-cup-&BACK
At &BACK coffee, we’re driven by our commitment to empowering every individual and organization to achieve more. We invite you to savor more than just coffee; savor a commitment to ethical sourcing, environmental stewardship, and grassroots initiatives that empower women coffee farmers through Fairtrade, financial literacy, and increased opportunities. With each cup, you’re not just enjoying a coffee; you’re a part of something bigger. Read about the incredible women of &BACK and their stories to witness how a simple cup of coffee can inspire transformation.
HOW IT WORKS
A CLOSED LOOP CIRCLE OF IMPACT:
OUR THREE-PRONGED APPROACH
![a woman wearing a hat with the words investing in women](https://andback.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Group-218@2x.png)
![a pink background with the words supporting women farmers in the industry through agricultural training to financial literature programs](https://andback.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Group-219@2x-1.png)
![a hand holding a bunch of berries with the words sourcing responsible](https://andback.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Group-216@2x.png)
![a green background with the words, engineering with fair trade to energize customers earn fair prices](https://andback.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Group-219-3@2x.png)
![two people shaking hands with the words doing our part for the planet](https://andback.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/doing-our-part-for-the-planet.png)
![a blue background with white text that reads, starting up with organizations is about 1 % for the planet](https://andback.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Group-221@2x-1.png)
MEET ESTHER KOSKEI:
coffee grower and business woman
Kabngetuny Farmer’s Cooperative Society, which provides our premium-grade coffee beans, is nestled high up in the hills of Kericho County, Kenya. Its story is unique: typically, land is owned by men, but the men in this co-op each gifted 50 coffee seedlings and some land to their wives, enabling them to have their own source of income and become members of the co-op. Esther Koskei is one of those women.
Esther Koskei still remembers the moment she became an independent coffee farmer. Alongside other local women, she was called to a meeting at Kabngetuny Farmers’ Cooperative Society. Esther’s husband, along with the other women’s husbands, was a coffee farmer and member of the co-op. That day, the women learned that they would each be given coffee seedlings of their own. It was a big moment: as Esther explains, it was not only the first time each of them would have their own seedlings to farm, it was also the first time any of them could say they owned something.
“This is the first time we as women were empowered by being given these bushes,” says Esther. Esther and the other women were now independent coffee farmers, equipped to grow their own coffee and earn their own income. For the first time, each of them was also able to open a bank account. “I’m a proud woman, because I have an account in my name,” says Esther. She explains that before, when her or her children needed money, she would first need to ask her husband. Having her own income empowered her with a huge amount of financial independence and freedom. She could buy school supplies for her children, sugar or salt for her kitchen, or anything else she needed. She could also support the family by contributing to the children’s school fees.
By sourcing responsibly with Fairtrade, &BACK ensures that farmers like Esther can earn better prices for their coffee, can invest in their futures and can experience good working conditions. After receiving her coffee seedlings, Esther also had access to agricultural training, ensuring she had the skills and tools to help her new crops succeed.
![Women mean business.](https://andback.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/AB-Site-Homepage-Image-2@2x-1-e1667161887202-289x300.png)
![a group of women standing around each other](https://andback.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Kabngetuny-Sep-Pictures25-Tafari.png)
![a woman with glasses sitting at a table](https://andback.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Kabngetuny-Sep-Pictures7-Tafari@2x-261x300.png)
FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING IN KENYA:
INITIATIVE GOALS AND OUTCOMES
This unique initiative is aimed at building the financial management skills of women farmers at Kabng’etuny Farmers Co-operative Society located in Kericho County, Kenya. This training is to help these women learn skills to make smart investments, save for the future, and build resilience to economic shocks.
Our goal is to also create a network of women leaders for farmer groups and cooperatives in the region.
![a woman sitting at a table in front of a sign](https://andback.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Group-218-1@2x.png)
![a pink background with white text that reads, through a series of in - depth work, then build](https://andback.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Group-219-1@2x.png)
![a woman picking leaves from a tree with the words 10 + women farmers training](https://andback.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Group-218-3@2x.png)
![a green background with the words working with the tots, women are farmers receive peer support to improve](https://andback.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Group-219-4@2x.png)
![a group of women standing next to each other](https://andback.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Group-218-5@2x.png)
![a quote on coffee that says, when coffee farmers feel bad about themselves, and more control their businesses](https://andback.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Group-219-6@2x.png)
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