Regenerative agriculture Equitable entrepreneurship Personal coaching
for lasting impact.

700 million people live in extreme poverty – most are farmers.

Thanks to the work of many, this number has been steadily declining, but there is much more to be done. We believe eradicating poverty is vitally important, we know it’s possible, and we are confident that we provide support that works.

Program Timeline

July

aug

sep

oct

nov

dec

jan

feb

mar

apr

may

june

May

June

Program Pillars

Kula’s Program Pillars serve as the lens and values through which we engage in our work. These pillars guide not just what we do but how we do it; where emphasis is placed in training, what kinds of farm materials and methodologies are provided, what kinds of businesses are supported, and how we make decisions. While keeping our focus on organizational purpose and ends, these pillars ensure that the means are never sacrificed.

Equitable
Entrepreneurship

Women’s
Empowerment

Regenerative
Impact

Environmental
Sustainability

Evidence-Based
Actions

Locally-Led
Solutions

Why coffee farmers?

Consistently one of the top export cash crops in many low-income countries, coffee is growth throughout East Africa and has the potential to be uniquely impactful in the lives of farmers. While involving a higher barrier of entry than other crops, coffee is a long term investment that, when cultivated well, can provide a greater return per land size than most others.

Where we work

Rwanda, East Africa

Land of a thousand hills. A small but mighty country in the heart of Africa.

  • Overcoming the horrific 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi, Rwanda has developed and strengthened in numerous ways, building strong tourism and hospitality industries, consistent agricultural exports, and a bourgeoning tech scene. Nonetheless, there is still much to be done. 52% of the population lives in poverty, including the majority of its 450,000 coffee farmers. Women face unique disadvantages in the coffee sector, and are often excluded from decision-making, access to finance, and leadership opportunities. Our Fellowship Program aims to change that, bringing new opportunities to the whole family.

As we continue expanding our reach to impact 25,000 individuals by 2028, we will be partnering with Rwanda's Ministry of Agriculture and National Agriculture Export Board to determine the Districts and Sectors to next bring our Fellowship Program to.

Our Impact

With each Fellowship Cohort, we continue to see higher levels of impact year-over-year with program results maintaining steady and sustained growth after graduation due to the strengthening of our methodology and team, greater clarity on the most effective strategies and inputs, and increased investment into program components responsible for the highest levels of impact.

Within 1 year after graduation, Kula Fellows experience on average:

244%

increase in income

395%

increase in savings

116%

Increase in Coffee Harvest

Our Most Recent Annual Report

Because it's working, we're growing.

5,025
people impacted

through 2024

1,150
fellows graduated

25,000
people impacted

through 2028

8,150
fellows graduated

Stories from our Fellows

Beyond these numbers are real people with real, complex, and beautiful stories – stories of resilience, of progress, and of hope.

Donatille

The Donatille we met in 2018 is not the Donatille we know now.

By implementing what she learned and utilizing the inputs provided in her coffee farm, Donatille increased her coffee harvest by 200% after graduating from the Fellowship. But she didn't stop there – by advancing her thriving flour-milling business, she generated enough income to pay back all of her debts, purchase livestock, send her granddaughter to school, and even invest in her son's moto taxi business.

Donatille is a testament to the power and possibility of entrepreneurship.

Read more >

Join Us

Kula is an impact-driven organization. All of our time, energy, and resources support our mission: to eradicate poverty through the development of entrepreneurs in Rwanda's coffee communities. Donate today and partner with us in this life-changing work.