Vunga is a small but highly regarded washing station in Rwanda’s Nyabihu District, near the borders with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Founded in 2009 by Daphrose Uwimana, it is woman-owned and managed, and has become known for producing exceptional coffees that have earned top placements in the Rwandan Cup of Excellence. Daphrose’s leadership has fostered a close network of women producers, combining mentorship with rigorous quality standards.

From the beginning, she recognized the threat posed by declining youth interest in coffee farming. To address this, she invested her own coffee earnings into land purchases, creating opportunities to train young people in cultivation and processing. Her vision is to raise coffee quality in the region while ensuring it remains a viable livelihood for future generations, inspiring them to carry forward the area’s specialty coffee tradition.