Coffee is a valuable resource, but it would be nothing without the relationships between producers, harvesters, machinery manufacturers, roasters, baristas and consumers. That is why PROBAT has been part of a cooperation with Mahlkönig and La Marzocco on the Songwa Estates coffee farm since 2007. This plantation is located in south-west Tanzania, at an altitude of approximately 1,500 metres above sea level near the city of Mbeya. This non-profit project aims to create a cooperative joint venture that supports the local people and place their needs first.
The partners organise origin trips, during which visitors learn more about the origins of coffee, the work during the harvest season, the soil quality of the fields and the people themselves who earn their living with seasonal work on the plantation. Together, we constantly strive to learn more about coffee and support social development projects for the people in Songwa.
The partners are also committed to maintaining high social and environmental standards on the plantation. Alongside this, all of the farm’s supporters make sure to encourage dialogue between surrounding villages and improve quality of life.
For the last few years, a small amount of money from every Probatone machine sold has gone into our “Hands for Songwa” project. If you look closely, you can find the Songwa logo on our machines.
This project has helped build classrooms for the nearby primary school and funded important infrastructure investments that make life in the community better. Since 2017, we have focused on supplying surrounding villages with fresh water. The construction of several wells means that villagers can now get clean drinking water closer to home.
Would you like to know more about “Hands for Songwa”? You can learn more here.
