May 2006

In October 2005, Lifeline Energy launched a new pilot project in Rwanda. The Coffee Lifeline idea was brought to us in 2002 by Peter Kettler, a specialty coffee importer based in the US. This global initiative seeks to empower coffee farmers in producing countries by using Lifeline radios to provide access to information and education in isolated rural areas with high rates of illiteracy. Coffee Lifeline gives coffee farmers timely market information, agricultural and other technical advice and weather bulletins, thereby enabling sustainable economic progress. Additionally, programming about AIDS education, health issues for women and distance learning projects will be incorporated into broadcasts targeted to the coffee growing communities.

The pilot project, called Coffee Lifeline Rwanda, is the starting point for the global program. Prior to the 1994 genocide, coffee was the primary cash crop of Rwanda. In 1990, Rwanda exported 45,000 tons of coffee per year. Although there are more than 450,000 coffee farmers, in 2003 Rwanda only exported 14,000 tons. The international coffee crisis has hit Rwandan coffee farmers especially hard, and in some areas, the coffee sector has been devastated.

InterAmerican Coffee is our original sponsor of the Coffee Lifeline Rwanda pilot project. With assistance from InterAmerican and other core Lifeline Energy donors, we have been able to put 130 Lifeline radios toward the implementation of Coffee Lifeline Rwanda since October. Working with Mr. Kettler and field partner PEARL, the project already has benefited thousands of farmers. An average of 100 farmers listen to each radio, thereby directly affecting 13,000 people.

December 2005 saw the debut of Radio Salus, a new radio broadcasting facility associated with the National University of Rwanda. Radio Salus has expressed interest in playing an integral role in helping to develop programming for Coffee Lifeline Rwanda and Lifeline Energy is excited about the new collaboration.

The Specialty Coffee Industry has generously supported Lifeline Energy in funding our Coffee Lifeline project. Ancora Coffee Roasters in Wisconsin donates to Lifeline Energy via their Cafe Rwanda campaign. InterAmerican Coffee continues to be a Foundation supporter, and dozens of others have contributed, as well.

Although the initial groundwork has been laid, there is much still to be accomplished in Rwanda to make Coffee Lifeline Rwanda a success. Additional radios are needed to serve an ever-growing roster of farmers and funding is needed to support the radio programming.

The long-term, over-arching goal of the Coffee Lifeline project is to utilise Lifeline radios to connect coffee farmers in Africa, Indonesia, South and Central America through weekly broadcasts of a "World Cafe" programme that will include coffee- related technical information, education, health advice, and oral storytelling traditions.

Original posting Nov. 8, 2005. Updated May 3, 2006