In Gear | Rotary in Southern New Zealand In Gear - Issue 3 | Page 20

wants to be there with them, and working alongside them in an ethical environment.” The foundation, which has already struck up a supply relationship with a New Zealand coffee roaster, plans to double the number of families to 10, and will continue educating them about international trade, as well as refurbishing an old mill that lies on the 2ha plot. Herminio uses his new-found drilling skills to build a coffee-drying bed. “There’s no point returning nutrients to point-five-of- a-hectare here and there. You have to get everyone on board. If we’re going to be part of reviving Pluma coffee, everyone needs to buy into it.” As part of the pilot, The Lucy Foundation had a review conducted. The results were heartwarming, and, with it, came the greatest feedback the team could have hoped for. Every farming family was eager to stay on board. What’s more, they are already enjoying significant benefits. “They are just overwhelmed with joy that their young people with disabilities, for the first time in their lives, are spending significant periods of time away from the family home,” Robbie says. “We have one young man – 17 or 18 – who’s gone from never