The cooperative is located east of Managua in the department of Estelí where a large part of the land is dedicated to tobacco production and largely controlled by male producers. Las Diosas consists of four small cooperatives, each managed by its own Directiva (female board of directors) Fiercely independent and determined to succeed in the coffee industry, the 250-member cooperative has come a long way since its founding in 1996, both in terms of sustainable business relationships for their coffee sales and in promoting issues such as women’s education, housing and health. The women of Las Diosas have worked hard to improve their production capacity – using intensive organic practices and expanding opportunities in local, national and international markets.
Las Diosas works closely with La Fundación entre Mujeres (FEM), or Women’s Foundation, with their development project work focused on women’s health issues, universal access to education, and economic and moral support for single mothers.
Between 1,000 and 1,200 meters above sea level, the coffee plantations of Las Diosas grow under the good graces of these women who know the importance of their feminist struggle for past and future generations, as well as that of producing high quality beans.
