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Women’s contribution to the coffee sub-sector is often undervalued and poorly documented. However, despite being a traditionally male-dominated sector, a significant part of the PNG coffee industry is made up of women. Coffee has become a vital source of sustainable income for many women in remote communities, where there are limited other opportunities to make a living.

Our Femili PNG Coffee is grown by members of the Ukuni Women’s Association, located remotely in the Western Highlands of PNG. This cooperative was formed in 2010, with the aim of providing opportunities to female coffee growers. It has 194 registered members, who together farm over 720,000 coffee trees. By supporting their participation in the coffee industry, we financially empower local women and their families – enabling them to build meaningful, sustainable lives.

Our coffee beans are grown naturally, free from chemicals and pesticides, at higher than 1600 metres above sea level. The Ukuni women pick the beans by hand, and dry them in a coffee house located inside the village. They are then stored in a central storage unit, until they can be transported to their next location. With rich volcanic soils and a relatively consistent average temperature of 16-24°C, the Western Highlands have some of the world’s best conditions for growing coffee.

FemiliPNG Australia then work with local coffee buyers, who help to supply the green coffee beans to Australia. PNG is located just 4km away from Australia’s closest island. This limits carbon emissions, as our coffee beans do not need to be transported across the world. The local coffee buyers also assist with training and resources for the female farmers.

Our coffee beans are roasted to order in Canberra, Australia, and sealed to ensure freshness. Our roaster, Niugini Arabica, specialise in roasting PNG coffee beans and know exactly how to bring out their unique flavours and aromas. The end result is a full-bodied coffee with delicious chocolate and citrus undertones. Our coffee received a bronze medal at the 2023 Royal Adelaide Coffee Show, in the ‘Latte Single Origin’ category!

Every sip supports Femili PNG to link survivors of family and sexual violence with the help they need.

Fressko aims to eliminate take-away cup culture by bringing you stylish, BPA-free, lightweight reusable coffee cups. FemiliPNG Australia partnered with Fressko to produce sustainable 8oz and 12oz cups as a fundraiser for Femili PNG’s vital case management services.

Each cup has a stainless steel insulated inner that keeps drinks hot for up to 3 hours, while its outer stays cool to the touch. It also has barista-friendly measurement lines, and fits under standard coffee machines (and in most car cup holders!). The cup has a scratch-proof body, slip-resistant base and spill-proof screw on lid with a click lock.

The artwork on this cup was designed by Papua New Guinean artist Lesley Wengembo. Lesley was born in Goroka and raised in Port Moresby. He started painting in 2012 when he followed his mum to a monthly craft market at Moresby National Art Theatre. There, he saw the work of the late Martin Morobubuna and was influenced by his work. In recent years, Lesley’s work has focused on hyper-realistic portraiture in oils. He loves painting faces and feels it connects him to his culture and Papa New Guinean identity. Lesley has been a two-time Archibald Prize entrant.

The craft of bilum weaving has been passed down to Papua New Guinean women from their mothers and grandmothers across generations. Bilums not only hold great cultural significance, but they also serve as an opportunity to support women’s participation in the local economy. The pattern of each bilum tells a unique story – reflecting the current life events of the weaver, their familial and cultural history, and the Province in which they are from.

Since opening in 2014, Femili PNG has provided over 6,100 survivors of family and sexual violence with access to safe accommodation, law and justice interventions, medical assistance, and more. All bilum sales go directly towards supporting Femili PNG’s life-changing services.

Our mission at FemiliPNG Australia is to be an effective, efficient, and ethical organisation supporting local solutions to family and sexual violence in PNG. This mission underlies everything we do, from the way we collaborate with Femili PNG, to the t-shirts and tote bags we choose to fundraise with.

As expertly explained by The Common Good Co., “you cannot exploit women and children in one country to empower them in other”.

If we are to truly achieve our mission of being an ethical organisation, the t-shirts and tote bags we sell and wear must also be ethical.

This led us to partner with The Common Good Co – a t-shirt company with a real commitment to sustainable and ethical production. They’re B-Corp and Fairtrade certified – making them leaders in the global movement for an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy. All their t-shirts are ethically made in India from 100% recycled materials, reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and the oceans.