The Honduras Education Life Project - H.E.L.P.

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We at J.J. Darboven believe: Anyone who wants to enjoy high-quality coffee should also consider the living conditions of the coffee growers in the region of its origin. We have always regarded coffee as a way of life. Following this mindset, we launched the Honduras Education Life Project (H.E.L.P.) in 2015 together with ofi, one of the world's leading green coffee trading companies.

This project aims to improve the lives of micro-producers and their families in Santa Bárbara, Honduras, one of the poorest coffee-growing regions in Latin America. Together, at eye level, and through targeted help for self-help.

Where do the greatest coffee fans live?

We Europeans love our coffee. In our part of the world the leading coffee-drinkers are the Scandinavians, by a good margin, but coffee is important everywhere, as a morning waker-upper, office caffeinator, or café relaxant. Coffee is the second biggest trade item on the world market, and the most popular drink of our time. During the past 20 years, world coffee consumption has almost doubled, driven by the continuing penetration of new markets by café chains. Considering this popularity, it’s odd that we pay so little attention to where our beloved pick-me-up comes from.

It starts with your morning cup of coffee

Who is thinking of the coffee growers at the origin of our beans while having their morning coffee? In Honduras, for example, the coffee harvest is very time-consuming and exhausting for small farmers. The Arabica coffee cherries grown there grow on mountain slopes that are difficult to access, are harvested individually by hand and then carried in baskets on the back to the small haciendas of the coffee growers. For 500 g of coffee beans, a coffee farmer has to pick and process approx. 2.5 kg of coffee cherries, while in Germany we simply reach for the supermarket shelf.

H.E.L.P. – Appreciation and support

For us, coffee has always been one of the good things in life. At J.J. Darboven we think that if you’re going to enjoy top-quality coffee you should also give some thought to the quality of life of the people who grow the coffee at the source. Accordingly, for the 150th anniversary of the company we decided to set up an aid project for coffee growers and their families in Honduras. Together with OFI, a raw materials supplier active worldwide, we founded the Honduras Education Life Project, or H.E.L.P. for short.

Currently, we offer our more than 200 participants tailored support for smaller and larger projects. Since the beginning, in addition to continuing and expanding existing activities, the focus has been on improving educational opportunities for coffee growers’ children. Further, we currently plan to support to build three clinics to improve local medical care.

Better coffee for a better life

We visit H.E.L.P.

H.E.L.P. - Report from Honduras

How we help

Economically

Ecologically

Socially

Where do the greatest coffee fans live?

It starts with your morning cup of coffee

H.E.L.P. – Appreciation and support

IDEE KAFFEE – Top quality from Honduras

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