Natividad

Natividad Vallejos is a member of a women-produced and led coffee program Cafe Femenino that is part of the Cecanor cooperative, located in Peru. In 2003, more than 400 female coffee producers united to create Café Femenino in order to strengthen the voices and economic power of impoverished, marginalized women in coffee production. The women farmers of Café Femenino in Cecanor obtain control of revenues and land ownership and receive acknowledgment for their exceptional coffee.

Natividad’s coffee farm has been Fairtrade certified and affiliated with Café Femenino for 15 years, and her children are also now members. She and her fellow producers have used their power to invest in community projects, such as children’s libraries, schools, health and nutritional education, and programs that build self-esteem, human rights awareness, and literacy.