sourece: Equal Exchange
I travelled to the small community of San Cristobal to visit San Miguel Fique,
a base-level co-op with 24 members, 8 of whom are women. We met with two
women named Flor; both of whom have served on the board of directors.
Santos Florentina (“Flor”) Lizana Laban, a founding member of the co-op,
is a community leader who has represented the organization at international
forums, advocating for the benefits of fair trade and co-op membership. She
credits the love and support from her husband.
Santos Florentina farms five acres with three different coffee types—Typica,
Catimore Cogello Verde, and Geisha—interlaced with shade and fruit trees.
We munched on guaba fruit as we arrived at her small processing mill tucked
behind her home. She walked us through her coffee process: depulping,
fermenting, and washing, noting the mill was “just the right size for one
person to manage.”
Santos Florentina is a mother of two and an entrepreneur. When she is not
farming, she sorts, roasts, and sells her green coffee locally. I was impressed
by the care she took to remove defects before roasting the coffee in a large
ceramic bowl over the fire. She asked my opinion about the best roast level,
and I encouraged her to talk to her customers and see what popular local
brands were doing. She also proudly shared her work as a weaver, displaying
vibrant textiles she makes into bags, hammocks, and scarves.
Flor Violeta Yajahuanca Solís is a newer co-op member serving on
the regional board of directors. As a mother of two, she and her
husband farm about 2.5 acres of coffee with three varieties:
Catimore, Gran Colombia, and Geisha.
She joined the co-op because she “always saw the results” of
her father's membership and wanted her “work to be reflected
in something positive.” She reflected that it is easier for women
to take on leadership roles now than in the past. “Now the rules
are more flexible and allow us to participate more at our own pace.
Although of course, for a woman it is never easy to detach from
home, especially when there are small children, but if you set your mind
to it and have understanding with your partner, it can be achieved.”
“Thanks to that, today I am a director of the area. When they proposed the
position to me, I didn't know how to say no. Here we are, in the struggle,
coexisting with respect between men and women.”
