Partner Highlight: Grounds for Health - Building The Bridge To Globally Inclusive Health Care

Partner Highlight: Grounds for Health - Building The Bridge To Globally Inclusive Health Care

Every two minutes, a woman dies from cervical cancer, a disease that is entirely preventable.

Before I entered the world of coffee, my passion was nursing. I appreciate connection and compassionately care about people. Aside from the occasional “first aid” I administer these days (“Do you need a band aid for that?”), I rarely get to practice my nursing skills. So, I look to form connections with people in the coffee world. You might be surprised to learn that as a co-owner of two coffee brands I’ve never had a knack for tasting notes, roasting profiles, or a depth of knowledge into all the coffee varieties available. Could I maintain a conversation about brew methods, grind size, and water parameters? Maybe… but what I’d really like to talk about is people, connection, and how we can use our business for good.  

Grounds For Health Logo

I entered the coffee industry in 2014, and I was immediately drawn to Grounds for Health - they are doing the good work I support. They are a nonprofit dedicated to providing women in coffee communities with access to life-saving cervical cancer screenings and treatment.

Brewing Change for Women

When One Village Coffee joined the 1% for the Planet movement in 2024, Grounds for Health was an obvious partner. We joined Grounds for Health’s “Women Choosing Women” Initiative. This initiative encourages women in coffee to donate $1,000 to support women’s health programs at origin - This is one way I can extend my values of compassion and care to my work at One Village Coffee. 


Grounds for Health works in Latin America and Africa, partnering with local health systems to train healthcare providers and community health workers, and provide HPV self-sampling and follow-up care. 
Why the connection to coffee? Cervical cancer rates are some of the highest in the world in coffee-growing regions because women do not have access to high-quality care. Giving women access to basic health care is crucial for these communities. 

Map depicting cervical cancer's most prominent regions across the world
Image credit to Gaffney, D. K., Hashibe, M., Kepka, D., Maurer, K. A., & Werner, T. L. (2018). Too many women are dying from cervix cancer: Problems and solutions. Gynecologic oncology, 151(3), 547–554. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygyno.2018.10.004

Coffee's Backbone has a Blindspot

Cervical cancer disproportionately affects young women, making the loss of life even more devastating. I was surprised to learn that women are the backbone of coffee production, making up approximately 70% of the labor force—a number that rises as high as 90% in some regions. They take on the most labor-intensive roles, from planting and pruning to harvesting and processing coffee cherries. Yet, despite this vital contribution, women own only 20-30% of coffee farms, leaving them out of key financial and decision-making processes that shape their livelihoods—including access to healthcare.

This inequity extends beyond land ownership. Without economic power, many women lack the resources or autonomy to prioritize their own health, making preventive care inaccessible. Grounds for Health addresses this disparity.  When women have access to essential healthcare, they can continue to support their families, strengthen communities, and sustain the future of coffee.

Commitment Without a Deadline


As we’ve just wrapped up Women’s History Month, it’s a reminder that advocacy for women shouldn’t be limited to a single month—it should be an ongoing commitment. Supporting Grounds for Health is one way we can turn that commitment into action. 

To learn more or donate to Ground For Health directly, visit their website: groundsforhealth.org

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