MEET
Guadalupe Méndez de Dios
Guadalupe transformed her family legacy into her own thriving coffee nursery, balancing respect for tradition with bold, independent leadership.
Her journey
Coffee was woven into every aspect of Guadalupe’s life. Her mother had devoted herself to the crop, instilling respect and love for the land. Yet stepping into leadership herself was daunting—traditional expectations and a lack of independent experience created challenges. She needed guidance, resources, and confidence to forge her own path.
Through Farmer School and seed funding, Guadalupe launched a coffee nursery, learning to manage daily operations, source materials, and make critical decisions. She grew into a capable leader, balancing her responsibilities while honoring her family’s legacy. “I feel a double responsibility—first, to not let my mother down, because she inspires me, and second, to prove to myself and others that I am capable of managing this project successfully.”
“My dream is to have a nursery, grow healthy plants, and develop a farm that supports my family and serves as my life’s work—a place I can be proud of.”
Key Learnings
Coffee nursery management and plant propagation
Leadership as a woman in a traditional setting
Strategic planning and resource management
Collaboration with fellow women producers
Transformation
Guadalupe’s nursery now supports more than 2,000 plants, providing both an income stream and future resources for her family’s coffee plots. She has gained confidence, independence, and the ability to make key decisions for her farm, becoming a role model for other women in her community.
About Guadalupe’s Project
NAME OF THE PROJECT
Vivero de Café
REGION / COUNTRY
Ihuatlán del Café, Veracruz - Mexico
SEED FUND FROM BV
$500 USD
PROJECT TYPE
Coffee Nursery
Looking Ahead
Guadalupe plans to expand her nursery, develop additional agricultural projects like poultry and vegetables, and continue capacity-building to enhance her techniques. “My dream is to have a nursery, grow healthy plants, and develop a farm that supports my family and serves as my life’s work—a place I can be proud of.”