At WECO, we believe lasting change requires both quality partnerships and global networks investing in locally led solutions. Our collaboration with Rotary exemplifies the power of such partnerships in action.
Across districts and countries, Rotary clubs have partnered with WECO to support women and girls in building stronger, more resilient futures, through mentorship, education, economic opportunity, and community-led development. From expanding women-led coffee businesses in Costa Rica to building classrooms, pathways to higher education, and sustainable communinty farm initiatives in Kenya, our partnership with Rotary is amplifying our work to create lasting impact.
Strengthening Women-Led Coffee Businesses in Costa Rica
In Costa Rica, WECO has partnered with the Rotary Club of West Seattle and District 5030 Rotary Clubs to support Women’s Mountain Coffee (WMC), a project with a women-led coffee cooperative in La Legua de Aserrí, ASIPROFE. Through a District 5030 Matching Grant and club contributions, we raised $13,000 in 2025 to strengthen the cooperative’s business, provide access to mentorship and training, and expand their production, helping them build pathways to local and international markets.
Since 2021, WECO has helped the cooperative achieve:
- 78% growth in production output
- ~3:1 return on investment
- 150+ direct beneficiaries
- 44 fanegas processed in the most recent harvest (2 tons!)
This past harvest also marked a major milestone: ASIPROFE completed their first green bean export, opening the door to more stable and higher-value global export markets. The cooperative’s growth has been cultivated by a network of supports, including the local government, WECO, Rotary, and local NGO, Bean Voyage, an organization dedicated to empowering smallholder women coffee farmers in Latin America. This coaltion of collaborative work has been the driving force behind ASIPROFE’s achievements.
Over the past year, they have:
- Increased prices to reflect growing demand and improve profitability
- Strengthened roasting quality and consistency
- Invested in branding, marketing, and customer engagement
- Improved internal systems, including financial tracking and organizational management
They are also currently expanding their infrastructure and operations, including:
- Upgraded drying systems and greenhouse space (through government-supported funding)
- A new, more efficient mill secured through interest-free financing
- New revenue streams through contract processing services
Looking ahead, our work will focus on helping the cooperative create a balanced model for exporting a goal of ~30–40% of their coffee in 2026, while continuing to meet increased domestic demand for their roasted coffee. With rising global prices and increased competition from larger buyers, continued support at this stage is critical to help ensure they can scale production, meet local demand, and fully realize the gains made through this partnership.
The current phase of our WMC initiative will focus on export readiness and expanding opportunity for women coffee farmers through targeted training, mentorship, and access to international markets. With continued support from Rotary (including a 2026/2027 District 5030 Matching Grant we are in the process of applying for), this next phase will equip 60–80 women coffee farmers in the Tarrazú coffee region with the tools to increase their income, strengthen their businesses, and build long-term economic resilience for their families and communities.
Read more about our 2025 project impact and current project plans here.
Investing in Girls’ Education and Sustainable Farming in Kenya
In Kenya, WECO’s work addresses the generational impacts of female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriage—harmful practices that continue to affect young Maasai girls in rural communities. In partnership with the Tepesua Community-Based Organization (CBO), WECO is supporting a locally led model that combines education, economic empowerment, and mentorship to create long-term change.
In 2024, WECO partnered with the Rotary Clubs of East Portland and Lake Oswego to support construction of two new classrooms at the Tepesua School Complex, expanding access to education for 60+ additional students. During a site visit in July, WECO brought classroom materials and creative arts activities, menstrual health products to support girls’ school attendance, and livelihood supplies for the vocational training program for women in the widows’ village, including sewing machines and livestock.
In 2025, again with support from the Rotary Clubs of East Portland and Lake Oswego, along with a District 5100 Matching Grant, we expanded our work to focus on long-term sustainability and food security through a community farm initiative and girls’ mentorship programming. These programs include:
- Hands-on agricultural trainings for Maasai women in sustainable farming practices
- A first planting season to improve food security and generate income through surplus sales
- Leadership development for young Maasai women managing the farm and mentoring younger girls
- A mentorship program for junior secondary girls, helping them stay in school, avoid early marriage, and advance academically to qualify for higher education scholarships
Rotarians have supported this project through hands-on engagement, mentorship, and long-term relationship building. In August of 2025, WECO and Rotary partners traveled to Kenya to work alongside the community, digging swales, planting trees, painting classrooms, and leading creative arts activities.
This work is designed for long-term impact because it is a community-led model. The Tepesua CBO owns the land where the school and farm operate, ensuring WECO and Rotary investments remain within the community. Past students of the project, including young women trained in agriculture, community development, and education, are involved in project implementation and its future growth, representing the next generation of project leaders.
These ongoing efforts are creating pathways for girls to stay in school, for women to generate income, and for the community to build lasting resilience from within. Looking ahead, we will cointinue to partner with Rotary clubs across District 5100 and pursue a 2026/2027 District 5100 Matching Grant to sustain and scale this work.
The Power of Partnership
Across WECO and Rotary collaborations in Costa Rica and Kenya, one thing is clear: authentic partnership matters. Rotary has been more than a funding partner; it has been a collaborator, connector, and champion of community-led change. Through grants, fundraising, mentorship, and in-person engagement, Rotary clubs have helped amplify WECO’s gender equity work while building meaningful global connections.
Together, we are not just supporting individual, short-term projects—we are investing in scalable models of empowerment that are economically sustainable, inclusive, and locally led. The WECO team will continue to cultivate and nurture our Rotary partnerships to create more real, measurable change—from women coffee farmers in Costa Rica, to Maasai women and girls in Kenya—and beyond!
Additional Resources:
- WMC Rotary 2025 Costa Rica Service Trip (video)
- WECO 2025 Kenya Volunteer Project Trip (video)
- Transforming the Coffee Industry for Women in Costa Rica (blog)
- Sowing Seeds of Hope and Resilience: Creating a Legacy for Maasai Women (blog)
- Shaping The Next Generation of Maasai Women Leaders (blog)
- WECO’s 2025 Annual Report (PDF)
