World Relief Awarded Two Origin Grants from The Starbucks Foundation to Support Women in Coffee- and Tea-Growing Communities in Rwanda and Burundi

Contact: wr@pinkston.co

(Baltimore, MD) March 7, 2025 – Today, World Relief is celebrating the launch of two new partnerships with The Starbucks Foundation: a $300,000 two-year Origin Grant to World Relief Rwanda and a $300,000 two-year Origin Grant to World Relief Burundi. Over the next two years, this partnership will support over 21,000 women in coffee and tea-growing regions by enhancing economic resilience and fostering community flourishing. 

“We are incredibly grateful to The Starbucks Foundation for their ongoing partnership,” said Lanre Williams-Ayedun, Senior Vice President of International Programs at World Relief. “This grant allows us to build upon our previous partnership with The Starbucks Foundation in Rwanda and begin a transformative journey in Burundi while advancing our vision of creating resilient and flourishing communities. We are particularly proud to be the recipient of The Starbucks Foundation’s first grant to Burundi and to serve as a partner in uplifting 1 million women and girls by 2030.”

Aligned with Starbucks’ commitment to social impact and ethical sourcing, The Starbucks Foundation supports nonprofit organizations working to improve livelihoods in coffee-, tea-, and cocoa-growing communities – or “origin communities” – across Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America.

“Through our Origin Grants program, we are proud to work with nonprofits across the world to uplift women in origin communities with a goal to create opportunities and, ultimately, improve lives by empowering women,” said Kelly Goodejohn, Starbucks chief social impact officer and executive director of The Starbucks Foundation. “We know that investing in a woman creates ripple effects and favorable outcomes for her family and the larger community.”

The successful partnership between The Starbucks Foundation and World Relief in Nyamasheke, Rwanda from 2018 through 2022 exemplified this impact by benefiting 58,883 women through leadership development, financial inclusion, improved hygiene, and access to clean water.

The grant for the Twagukane Project – Kinyarwanda for “Let’s develop together” – will bolster coffee and tea-growing communities in Karongi, Rwanda. Clemence Nkulikiyinka, Country Director of World Relief Rwanda, expressed enthusiasm, sharing that “We are glad to once again partner with The Starbucks Foundation. We look forward to coming together to enhance agricultural practices, leadership skills, and clean water accessibility that will foster greater community flourishing across Rwanda.”

As the recipient of The Starbucks Foundation’s first Origin Grant for coffee-growing communities in Burundi, World Relief is launching the Dutezanyimbere Project – Kirundi for “Growing stronger together” – in Gitega, Burundi. With 87% of the population living below the poverty line and high rates of food insecurity throughout the country, World Relief and The Starbucks Foundation will work together to support communities with transformative trainings that unlock leadership potential, equality between women and men, and teach innovative agricultural and financial skills to drive economic resilience and stronger communities.

“We are delighted to start this partnership,” said Cesalie Nicimpaye, Country Director of World Relief Burundi. “This grant will have ripple effects throughout communities in Burundi by helping women and their families achieve financial stability, improve agroecological practices and gain financial literacy. We are eager to witness this transformation.”

Together, World Relief and The Starbucks Foundation are empowering women and strengthening economic resilience for coffee- and tea-growing communities in Rwanda and Burundi.

About The Starbucks Foundation

The Starbucks Foundation strengthens humanity by transforming lives across the world, with a focus on enabling community resiliency and prosperity and uplifting communities affected by disaster. Established in 1997, The Starbucks Foundation is a Section 501(c)(3) charitable organization under U.S. law.