The SuperWeCoffee project has officially come to an end, marking the successful completion of a significant journey of growth for the Dakcheung Coffee Cooperative, celebrated with the official handover of the cooperative's new office.
Created to support a group of smallholder coffee producers in the mountainous areas of Dakcheung District, Laos, the project has guided the transformation of a network of farmers into a well-structured, self-reliant cooperative, fully equipped to meet the challenges of regional markets.
Throughout the project, SuperWeCoffee worked alongside both women and men coffee producers to strengthen their skills across the entire coffee value chain—from production techniques and quality improvement to cooperative management, governance, and organizational development. This investment has enabled farmers not only to become more skilled producers, but also to take an active and informed role in leading and shaping the future of their own cooperative.
The Dakcheung Coffee Cooperative also had the opportunity to showcase its products at ASEAN trade fairs, promoting the quality of its locally produced coffee while demonstrating the management and organizational capacities developed throughout the project. The initiative also fostered greater gender inclusion by supporting women's participation and leadership within the cooperative.
The closing ceremony was attended by representatives of the European Union, including Doerthe Wacker, Head of the Political Section of the EU Delegation to the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and Inpone Senekhamty, Programme Manager at the EU Delegation.
The conclusion of SuperWeCoffee is much more than the end of a project: it demonstrates how the cooperative model can generate sustainable economic development, social inclusion, and lasting opportunities for local communities through a strong partnership involving CARE International in Laos, 4FORM, Haliéus (Italy), the International Cooperative Alliance Asia and Pacific, and Fairtrade Italia.
Watch the video and meet the women coffee producers of Laos: https://youtu.be/yAlKglvgPLI?si=wygAkAQrm5GQYiR2
