Canal Plus Rwanda, a subsidiary of Canal International, has entered into a partnership with Kula Project Rwanda, a non-governmental organization whose goal is to eradicate poverty by supporting entrepreneurs in Rwanda's coffee communities.
As part of its corporate social responsibility, Canal Plus initiated a partnership with Kula Project to support the plantation of 10,000 trees. The goal is to improve the welfare and experience of coffee growers across the country, particularly in districts such as Nyamasheke, Kayonza, and Gakenke.
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The memorandum of understanding was signed on Friday, June 16. During the ceremony, Aimé Abizera, the Sales Director at Canal Plus, revealed that the idea initially started as an initiative to combat deforestation and increase tree planting. This initiative prompted Canal Plus to invest in the project and eventually led to the partnership with Kula Project.
"While traveling to rural areas, I witnessed landslides, which was disheartening. I conducted research to understand the causes of deforestation and decided to plant trees during umuganda. However, after discussing the matter with friends, I realized that these trees might wither if not properly cared for. That&039;s when we discovered the Kula Project and their sustainable and best practices for tree planting. This realization led us to become partners," Abizera said.
Kula Project aims to plant not only 250,000 trees in 2023 but also to provide training on coffee best practices to coffee growers across the country, helping them produce high-quality coffee. They also offer training on life skills like financial literacy, leadership and business development.
Jackie Mutesi, the Executive Director of Kula Project, emphasized the value added by the partnership with Canal Plus, highlighting the need for more trees around coffee plantations for preservation.
"Coffee can last up to 30 years, but an old coffee plantation needs to be rejuvenated at least after 10 years to increase productivity," she said.
"With this partnership, we can easily plant more coffee trees and sustain them as a source of income to improve livelihoods."
Mutesi also noted that over the weekend, Kula Project offers masterclass sessions on how to produce quality coffee ,coffee cupping and brewing at their premises in Gishushu.
About Canal Plus
Canal Plus is a television distribution network that primarily broadcasts French and English programs. The network has been operating in Rwanda for over 10 years.