WUASIKAMA COFFEE – A COFFEE THAT HEALS AND STRENGTHENS COMMUNITIES
Wuasikama coffee is much more than just a product of the indigenous Inga community in the Colombian Andes. It is the expression of a journey that has led away from violence, drug trafficking, and destruction and back to a life of dignity and harmony with nature. It embodies the knowledge of a people who make their decisions in dialogue with the earth and whose worldview is shaped by respect, spirituality, and communal responsibility.
The Inga of Aponte have undergone a profound transformation. Just two decades ago, their territory was controlled by armed groups and their daily lives were dominated by fear, dependence, and loss. Today, they grow high-quality specialty coffee, creating a livelihood that strengthens their community and has become a symbol of peace, healing, and renewal.
Wuasikama coffee enables the people of Aponte to live a self-determined life. Each bean represents a return to their ancestors, the revival of their own culture, and the determined decision of a community to protect the earth and shape their future with their own strength.
Why is this project important?
The Ingas produce one of Colombia's most exclusive coffees. However, despite its high quality, most of the coffee from Aponte ends up on the mass market at low prices because the community lacks its own distribution channels. This leads to financial insecurity and prevents sustainable development.
This is where the “Wuasikama Coffee” project comes in. It empowers producers, creates fair sales markets, and enables investment in education and nature conservation. This allows the community to remain independent and its territory protected. At the same time, sacred farming methods that bring people and nature into harmony are preserved.
Impact
Our Approach
We work closely with the Inga community in Aponte, and Wuasikamas Colombia accompanies all activities directly on site. The organization is in daily contact with the producers and ensures that all decisions are made in accordance with their culture, knowledge, and needs.
The Inga already produce high-quality specialty coffee, but access to fair and stable markets remains limited. Our task is to work with Wuasikamas Colombia to open up new distribution channels, initially in Colombia and later in Switzerland and Europe. This will create a reliable economic basis that will prevent communities from having to resort to risky or environmentally harmful sources of income.
