This Co-operatives fortnight (18 June – 2 July), Wales is welcoming two Ugandan Coffee Field Officers from the Gumutindo Cooperative on the slopes of Mount Elgon, on the border with Kenya.
Joachim Watuwa and Patrick Kutosi have come to Wales to learn about Wales’s co-operatives and growing coffee culture, and to share their experiences of working in Fairtrade sustainable coffee production.
On Wednesday the 22 June, they visited Little Man Coffee shop in Cardiff to learn barista skills and to see how much people in Wales enjoy a cup of coffee.
Laura Bradford from Little Man Coffee Company said: “We take a lot of pride in the coffee we offer, so it’s was great to welcome Patrick and Joachim to the shop to give them some training and to learn about the way it is produced in Uganda.
“We even tried coffee the way the make it in Uganda and learnt of all the benefits it brings to the local communities there from women empowerment to education and health.”
Joachim said: “I was really excited about learning how to make barista style coffee. I enjoyed sharing my stories with the staff and customers in Little Man Coffee Company about the thousands of farmers on the mountain slopes who work hard to produce our coffee.
“We even managed to bring some of our coffee so that we could taste it together, hopefully they will serve it at the coffee shop for more people to try.
Patrick said: “I’m looking forward to sharing my experience with colleagues, friends and family when I get back home and telling them about how welcoming and friendly the Welsh are.”
Elen Jones, National Coordinator at Fair Trade Wales said: “In Wales we take a cup of coffee for granted, how often do we stop to think about where it has come from and the person who has worked hard to grow it for us?”
“This year we are celebrating the 8th anniversary of Wales becoming the World’s first Fair Trade Nation. The new legislation being introduced by the Welsh Government under the Well-being of Future Generations Act, supports us to continue to lead the way in being a globally responsible nation.”
The visit is supported by Fair Trade Wales, a partner of Hub Cymru Africa, the Wales Co-operative Centre and the Welsh Government. The project co-ordinator is John Harrington, a volunteer from Newtown.
