Rwanda - Province de l'Est - Taba - 85+ - A - Washed - Organic

Taba Village is in the now East Province of Rwanda and is found in the hills of Muhura Sector, Gatsibo District. This village is populated by coffee framers and Tom has 1,502 smallholders’ farmers registered where they provide coffee to his station. With the availability of good soil, enough rainfall, and favourable temperature, Organic Coffee with a great quality is produced. The washing station opened in 2020 for the sole purpose of washing and processing coffee from this village. The washing station has water source from Taba hills.

Coffee Villages was founded by Tom Bagaza and his wife Sylvia in 2007. Before getting involved in coffee, Tom worked on USAID (United States Agency for International Development) development projects for 9 years. Tom worked on the USAID PEARL and SPREAD projects between 2006 and 2014. Through these two projects, he worked directly with coffee producers, helping them to organise themselves into cooperatives, develop their business plans and professionalise their management. It was during this time that Tom witnessed the transformation of the lives of farmers and their communities through improved coffee quality and direct trade. A model that Tom dreamed of emulating in his community - the village of Taba.

In 2011, the couple met Mark Zchesch, an Australian pastor who runs humanitarian projects to help disadvantaged children in Rwanda. Sharing the same societal values, Mark, Tom & Sylvia decided to develop a project together to improve the lives of farmers through coffee production.