The founders of a coffee shop in Plymouth are hoping to raise awareness of the impact and consequences of the Rwandan genocide with a new short documentary showcasing their story.
Husband-and-wife duo Jabo Butera and Liliane Uwimana are the founders of Jabulani Coffee on Union Street - and are on a mission to connect the UK and Rwanda through coffee and education. The pair, who are from Rwanda but now live in Plymouth, have been working to bring people together and support local communities in both locations through social impact projects funded by profits made in their shop.
One such project is on a plantation in Rwanda's Gakenke province. Following the genocide in 1994, the Twongerekawa Coko cooperative began championing regenerative farming using organic and environmentally sustainable practices. Chameleons were introduced as a natural pesticide and water recycling was used for washing and cleaning the beans. Alongside the almost entirely female workforce, the project connects ambassadors from the UK and Rwanda to exchange knowledge to help support and secure the future of agriculture in Rwanda.
