Vanmai Coffee – An Extraordinary Tale about Coffee

Our Story of Hope

Laos

Houaphanh province

Leaving behind opium and conflict, we are growing coffee to fight poverty and provide our children with a brighter tomorrow

vanmaicoffee

"The start of the year marks our third year with c

"The start of the year marks our third year with coffee and we expect to be very productive next year. Growing coffee takes a lot of work and takes a long time to reach first harvest…But we believe in the strength of working as cooperative with other coffee villages and we are dedicated both physically and emotionally to producing quality coffee”
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Mr Bounsee likes to lead by example. His hard work and determination demonstrates the way forward to sustainable coffee farming in Lao.
Read his story in the bio. #cooperatives #cooperatives4development
#vanmai

“Opium cultivation made my father a slave. At ho

“Opium cultivation made my father a slave. At home, it was the only way for my family to make an income. But I was lucky that my path was much different from his. My grandfather was the deputy of the provincial police and he persuaded me to become a police officer… After five years, I decided to resign from my commander post and work with the NamEin village police force so that I could be closer to home and look after my family.” .
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From an early age, work, family, and community were a priority for Mr. Bounsee.
Read how his values led him to the cooperative by clicking the link in the bio.

#Vanmaicoffee #communityleadership #LaoPDR

“As village head, I’m learning as much as I po

“As village head, I’m learning as much as I possibly can so that I can get the most out of our coffee plantations and set an example for other farmers. I have tried coffee and learned that it has many different tastes. I really want to know as much as I can about coffee because in the future, I dream about owning a shop in my village so that people can have the opportunity to try my coffee where it was grown.”.
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Mr Vang has a vision for how he wants to support his community through the cooperative. Read about his story in the bio. #vanmaicoffee
#communityleadership #cooperatives

"We learned that if we combine our resources with

"We learned that if we combine our resources with other farmers, we may have a higher chance of reaching more buyers. It is possible to grow better crops by sharing knowledge and teaching each other. Most importantly, by working with other farmers, we are more able to take charge." .
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We are so excited to be an official cooperative. Mr. Vang's story tells about his past experience growing coffee and how joining a cooperative has renewed his hope for the future. Read his story by clicking the link in bio. #coffee #cooperatives #coops4dev🌍

It has happened. We just received our registration

It has happened. We just received our registration from the #LaoPDR Department of Cooperatives and Rural Development and we are now officially a cooperative! #coffee #futureofcoffee #coops4dev🌍

"The war affected us greatly. It caused unrest, in

"The war affected us greatly. It caused unrest, interrupted development, and it became harder for people to earn money. Trade was uncomfortable because people feared fighting. The bombing destroyed rice fields and there is still unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the ground."
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Farmer Mr. Chanthavone on the impact of war in his community. Read his story by clicking the link in our bio ➡️
#vanmaicoffee #uxo #laoPDR #coops4dev🌍

"In the year 1968, while we were cooking, a fighte

"In the year 1968, while we were cooking, a fighter plane started shooting the base. I saw a bullet about five meters away from me. In a panic, I hid by the mountain with twelve others. Very luckily, I survived. But my camp was burned and some of my friends were wounded."
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Not only did opium affect our community but so did war. Farmer Mr. Chanthavone shares about his experience fighting in the Laos Civil War. 👉 Click the link in our bio for his full story.

#vanmaicoffee #stories #furtureofcoffee #coffeecommunity

Hmong music from his portable radio accompanies Mr

Hmong music from his portable radio accompanies Mr. Yia as he works away on his farm. .
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#vanmai #vanmaicoffee #coffee #LaoPDR #Laos #Houaphanh #Hmong #people #coops4dev #cooperatives #farmers #SEAsia #agriculture #development #alternativedevelopment #community

Mr. Thong Va stands proudly by his coffee plants i

Mr. Thong Va stands proudly by his coffee plants in Nahieng Village. #2019 has been a year of lessons learned and steps forward. We are excited to see what #2020 brings. Happy New Year, everyone!
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#vanmaicoffee #vanmai #coffee #LaoPDR #Laos #Houaphanh #happynewyear #coops4dev #cooperatives #farmers #SEAsia #agriculture #development #alternativedevelopment #community

Inspecting the wet-processing centre in Phapheung

Inspecting the wet-processing centre in Phapheung Village with the #LaoPDR Ministry of Agricultural and Forestry to ensure it is ready for our coming coffee cherries. #gettingready .
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#vanmai #vanmaicoffee #coffee #Houaphanh #coops4dev #cooperatives #farmers #wetprocessing #coffeecherries #agriculture #alternativedevelopment #community #futureofcoffee

Perhaps you have tasted coffee but have you tried

Perhaps you have tasted coffee but have you tried a coffee cherry? When ripe, the fruit is sweet. It can also be made into tea.
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#vanmai #vanmaicoffee #coffee #LaoPDR #Laos #Houaphanh #coops4dev #cooperatives #farmers #SEAsia #agriculture #development #alternativedevelopment #community

It's getting colder but it's still sunny up in Hou

It's getting colder but it's still sunny up in Houaphanh. 🌱☀️ #coffee #farming

Our board committee is in Chiang Mai to check out

Our board committee is in Chiang Mai to check out cooperative projects in northern Thailand. We are now at the Chiang Mai Provincial Cooperative Office, learning about their organization and their work in promoting and building cooperatives.

#coops4dev🌍 #cooperatives #chiangmai #capacitybuilding #LaoPDR #Thailand #seasia #coffee #farmers #agriculture

Highlights from our first general assembly! We dis

Highlights from our first general assembly! We discussed and voted on the rules and regulations that will guide us in our first year as a registered cooperative!

#vanmaicoffee #LaoPDR #coops4dev🌍 #coffee

Mr. Somphone's coffee plants are growing nicely in

Mr. Somphone's coffee plants are growing nicely in Nam Ei Village.
#coffee #farmers #LaoPDR

Mrs. Vilai's shy laugh in front of the camera brou

Mrs. Vilai's shy laugh in front of the camera brought on more laughter from the others, but still did not wake the sleeping fellow behind her.

Post-harvest training in #Houaphanh continues!

Mr. Phommee is carrying his baby while reading up

Mr. Phommee is carrying his baby while reading up on post harvesting. Even though we're busy training and preparing for harvest, taking care of family never stops.
#vanmaicoffee #coops4dev #coffee #coffeefarmers #futureofcoffee #LaoPDR

Receiving the last bit of training to prepare us f

Receiving the last bit of training to prepare us for #harvest. Mr. Inphan has arrived from #Paksong to guide us through collecting ripened #coffee cherries, grading, pulping and drying. 🌱➡️☕

Mr. Phonexai aka 'Lao Superman' (4/4) | "Although

Mr. Phonexai aka 'Lao Superman' (4/4) | "Although I am already 69, I think that drinking Lao Khao may help me live another 50 years! My whole village would agree that my plantation is the best, and they know that even though I am old, I am the strongest. I have earned their respect through my hard work and success. Now that I am farming coffee, I have learned to pick, roast, and brew it all by myself! Brewing coffee is like brewing my Lao Khao because finding the right technique for the perfect cup can be a challenge. I like the taste of coffee, but I don’t think it will stop me from drinking my Lao Khao. Coffee cannot make me feel as strong as my whisky can." (Nasikhamxai Village, Xamtai District)

Mr. Phonexai aka 'Lao Superman' (3/4) | "Before I

Mr. Phonexai aka 'Lao Superman' (3/4) | "Before I go to work in my fields, I have a quick shot. My plantations are located on a hill and so I need to be able to climb up the mountainside easily and stay in good health. I find Lao Khao gives me the extra power to work hard and stay active. Everyone else is envious of how much I can accomplish in a day. I feel so strong that I think I can fly. But in reality, I think Lao Khao just makes me more productive. At night, I take one shot to help me fall asleep after a long day of hard work. Drinking makes me feel more relaxed and makes time spent with my friends more fun. I also get the courage to talk with the ladies in my village so that they make me the best papaya salad." (Nasikhamxai Village, Xamtai District)

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