Akeza Ki Kawa
Building Burundi's coffee future — one barista at a time
Our 3-month barista training program: coffee fundamentals, technique, machine maintenance, service and business — with certification and guaranteed placement.
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About the initiative
What Akeza Ki Kawa stands for
Akeza Ki Kawa is the social arm of KAWASILI SPRL — our long-term commitment to the farmers, families and young people whose work makes Burundian coffee possible. It is rooted in our Corporate Social Responsibility duties under Burundian law and the ILO conventions on decent work, and operates as an integrated branch of KAWASILI rather than a separate legal entity.
Purpose
Turn the coffee value chain into a real engine of local development — not extraction. We invest back into the communes that grow our coffee, starting with Muhanga and expanding outward.
Mission
Equip coffee farmers with sustainable agricultural know-how, train Burundian youth as certified hospitality professionals, and build the community infrastructure that makes both possible.
Vision
Scale from a single commune to a province-wide — and ultimately national — model where every Burundian touched by coffee has a clear path to dignified, durable livelihood.
Four pillars
How we create impact on the ground
Active since 2025, with 3,016 beneficiaries reached so far — primarily across Muhanga commune.
Sustainable agriculture
Organic coffee nurseries that supply farmers with healthy, climate-resilient seedlings.
Farmer capacity building
Hands-on training in ecological cultivation techniques, agronomy and post-harvest quality.
Ecological innovation
Promoting organic, soil-friendly fertilisers and farming practices that protect the watershed.
Youth employment
Barista training with practical placements and an internationally recognised certification.
Where we're heading
From one commune to a national model
Our current reach is limited only by KAWASILI's own resources. With the right partners, we will scale Akeza Ki Kawa from communal to provincial — and ultimately national — coverage by extending programmes to every farmer in our growing catchment, adding new training modules and community infrastructure, and securing the long-term funding that makes our social impact independent of seasonal commercial cycles.
The program
Three months that change a career
A complete curriculum that prepares Burundian baristas to work in hotels, restaurants, coffee shops — or start their own.
Train
Coffee fundamentals, extraction, latte art, equipment maintenance, service and business basics.
Certify
Recognized certification at the end of the program — a real credential to open doors.
Place
Guaranteed employment placement post-training, or support to launch a micro-enterprise.
Looking to enrol or learn more about training? Full training details on shambakahawa.com →
Stories
Where our graduates are now
"I learned to taste coffee. Now I train my own team."
Aline
Hospitality apprentice → Lead barista, Bujumbura hotel
"Akeza gave me the skills and the confidence to start my own place."
Patrick
Looking for work → Owner, micro coffee bar
"The certification opened doors I didn't know existed."
Solange
Recent graduate → Café manager, Kigali
Partner With Us
Support the next generation
Donors, foundations, hospitality groups and impact investors — partner with Akeza Ki Kawa to scale impact.
Partner with us
Help us train the next generation
NGOs, roasters and brands are welcome to support Akeza Ki Kawa.