Parishioners and Vincentian missionary and pastor Fr. Jean Pierre Kashori, C.M. clearing the grounds of the parish for planting
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Gitare Rwanda was founded by the Congregation of the Mission in 2016. Fr. Jean Pierre Kashori, C.M. is the pastor of this parish. The parish owns 9 hectares of fertile arable land. In 2018 they planted coffee on 3 hectares on their own. This year saw a small first harvest, but they expect a large one next year in 2022.
This area in Rwanda is encouraged to grow coffee by the government. Coffee and tea are major exports for Rwanda. Rwanda produces 20,000 to 22,000 tons of coffee per year. Most years it ranks in the top 25 coffee-producing countries in the world. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, a poor and rural parish, saw an opportunity to produce income for the parish by growing coffee.
The area of the addition to the coffee plantation
Over the last two years 2020-2021, the Region of Rwanda-Burundi of the Province of Columbia sent two micro-project applications to develop their small coffee plantation. In phase one (2020), the VSO helped to finance the purchase of agricultural necessities like mulch, fertilizer, pesticides and banana trees for shade. In phase two (2021), The Region appealed to the VSO again for aid in planting 8000 additional coffee plants, doubling the size of the plantation. Since they have not started generating income yet, the VSO helped them purchase coffee plants for the new section. The plantation gives the Parish something to work on as a community, plus hope for a regular income. They are blessed to have a group of volunteers trained in agriculture to help in this endeavor. Plus, many generous parishioners volunteer their labor. They hope to add their own coffee washing station in the future. Washed coffee garners higher prices at market.