The Woman Behind Sustainable Coffee Farming: A Story of Family, Love, and Hope

By Andreina Mayen

Meet Lilian Chajón Carías and her family, where love and labor intertwine in the heart of Guatemala's coffee country. Their inspiring journey reveals the power of family, resilience, and dreams for tomorrow.

Meet Lilian:  A Woman Leading Sustainable Coffee Farming in Guatemala

Women in coffee farming are cultivating sustainable livelihoods and weaving together a future of resilience and hope in their communities. Lilian’s life is a vivid example of this, as her family’s existence is intricately connected to the work of the coffee harvest. The 31-year-old mother and coffee farmer lives with her husband and 8-year-old daughter in Los Magueyes, Guatemala.  A dedicated coffee grower, Lillian balances her time on their farm with caring for her daughter and household. On Saturdays, she visits the coffee trees with her husband, and during the harvest, she helps pick the coffee cherries. She is an active member of the Las Brisas coffee cooperative, which has provided new connections and resources. Lillian is thankful for the opportunity to grow coffee together with her husband in a way that is sustainable for the land and their livelihood. “Since we started our family, we have supported each other in everything,” she said.

Balancing Coffee Farming and Family: A Mother’s Perspective

Lilian’s days begin early. She rises at 5 a.m. to prepare the house, get her daughter ready, and cook breakfast. During harvest time, her day starts even earlier. At 4 a.m., she is already cooking tortillas to send with her husband for lunch.

Although Lilian has experience harvesting coffee, sometimes it is a challenge. “As a coffee farmer, I help with the harvest, but since we had our daughter, it can be complicated to bring her along,” she shared. “Sometimes, it is better to stay with her at home and take care of her.”

One of the most difficult moments in Lilian’s life was facing the loss of two pregnancies. The first occurred when she was 19, and the second when she was 31. “You are never the same,” she said. “Even if you carry the baby for a couple of weeks, as a woman, you get emotional with any child. Only God knows why these things happen. It hurts a lot, but little by little, with God’s help, you move forward.”

A Miracle of Strength and Hope

Lilian’s eyes light up when she recounts this experience because, despite this challenging situation, she and her husband find a source of motivation in their daughter. “My daughter is a miracle, and she is what gives us strength and hope,” Lilian shared.

Lilian is very proud of her daughter and the family she has formed. “Thank God, our daughter teaches us a lot even though we are the parents. She is very intelligent and brave. We share everything with her, and she is learning the lessons of life. Sometimes, she even corrects us, and we all learn.”

As a coffee farmer, Lilian deeply values the effort that her work requires. “When I am given a cup of coffee, the first thing that comes to my mind is the perseverance of my dad,” she reflected.  “He used to tell me about the work he did with my mom. Life was not easy, but many memories come to mind.”

She also remembers how, as a child, she and her younger sister accompanied their father to the coffee plantations. She said, “We loved walking with him among the coffee plants and riding on his farm animals. My dad did not have time to pack a lunch, so we would bring tortillas to him.”

Families Take Ownership through Coffee Cooperatives

Today, thanks to the support of the Las Brisas cooperative, Lilian and her husband have improved their coffee farming practices and established a coffee nursery. Coffee cooperatives like Las Brisas help farmers by sharing knowledge and best practices and streamlining supply chains. They empower smallholder farmers to adopt environmentally friendly techniques, improve crop quality, and secure a more stable income, ultimately contributing to coffee-growing communities’ overall resilience and sustainability.

Through Las Brisas, Lillian’s family became connected with the Empowered Families, Prosperous Communities (FECP) project, part of Nespresso’s AAA Sustainable Quality Program. The program is implemented by TechnoServe and funded by Nespresso. It focuses on strengthening families by providing social and economic tools to enhance their well-being. Through workshops and training sessions, FECP encourages shared decision-making within households, improving communication and recognizing women as vital contributors to family farms and businesses. 

The program also emphasizes nutritional education and emotional support to foster healthier family dynamics. One workshop taught about nutrition and equitable food distribution, which were essential learnings for Lillian’s family. “They taught us to make decisions together,” she explained. “If something doesn’t seem right to both of us, we talk about it and decide if it is okay or not. We also learned about nutrition, which was helpful because my daughter went through malnutrition when she was little. Now we know how to prevent it.” By empowering families to work collaboratively, the program helps create a foundation for long-term prosperity and instills values that guide future generations toward success.

How Coffee Cooperatives Empower Women Farmers in Guatemala

Lilian affirms that the workshops were an essential piece to helping husbands and wives develop new skills and work together. “I think the new dynamics will help a lot,” she said. “There were many shy people. By the end, we all laughed because I used to be shy, too. Now, there is no discrimination. Here, the majority of the coffee farmers are men, so it is good that they have involved part of their family. Even the children were learning.”    

Lilian sees a positive change in her community, where women are gaining more recognition, saying, “I see that now there is the same value for both men and women, and that makes me happy. I admire women because they have the courage and strength to do what they want.” 

One woman Lillian admires in particular is her mother-in-law, who took Lillian under her wing after her mother passed away, guiding her and teaching her about coffee farming. This is the type of woman Lillian aspires to be for others.

Although Lilian left school in the fifth grade, she insists that her daughter continue her studies. “I regret not having finished school. I tell my daughter that we are going to support her so that her education does not stop at elementary school,” she said.

The Future of Sustainable Coffee: Lilian’s Dream for Her Community

Lilian is a visionary who dreams of a better future for her family and community. She hopes to build a second floor in her home to create more space and open a stationery store in town, which she believes is essential for schoolchildren. She explains, ‘Sometimes school supplies aren’t readily available for the children, and we have to travel to the nearest town to find them. I would love to open a stationery store in my community.”

With effort, family support, and determination, Lilian demonstrates that women coffee farmers have a fundamental role in building stronger and more prosperous communities. She remarked, “I would tell them to seek support. Little by little, someone is pruning their coffee beans and asking themselves if they are enough. It’s all about starting and gathering the courage to do things.”

FAQs

Q: How can I support sustainable coffee farming?

A: You can support sustainable coffee farming by contributing to organizations like TechnoServe, which empower farmers with the necessary skills to:

• Protect farm environments by promoting eco-friendly practices such as shade-grown coffee, which helps preserve biodiversity.
• Strengthen communities through programs that enhance market access, increase income, improve quality of life, and equip future generations with essential skills, leading to long-term community sustainability.

Q: How do coffee cooperatives improve coffee farmers’ lives in Guatemala?

A: Coffee cooperatives in Guatemala help farmers secure fair prices, access training, and build financial stability. They provide better market access, education on sustainable farming, and financial support, such as credit and savings programs. By working together, farmers strengthen their communities and improve long-term economic resilience.

Q: How does training empower women in coffee-growing communities?

A: Training empowers women in coffee-growing communities by equipping them with valuable farming, business management, and leadership skills. This knowledge enables women to run successful farms, increase their income, and take on leadership roles in cooperatives. It also can shift attitudes in the household and community about women’s knowledge and capacity. As a result, women often participate more in decision-making about the farm and in their household and play a crucial part in their community’s development.

Q: Why is it important for families to pass down their sustainable coffee farming practices?

A: Intergenerational knowledge is crucial in sustainable coffee farming because it preserves traditional farming practices that promote soil health, biodiversity, and long-term productivity. Older generations pass down techniques for maintaining healthy ecosystems, managing pests, and adapting to climate change. This shared wisdom ensures that sustainable practices are maintained while integrating modern innovations for improved farming practices.