Page 66 - Erath

oin me on a journey far away, to a people rich in culture, but poor in hope. To a land, not like our own, with a tribe of people who live simply as subsistent farmers. Gently tucked away in the Ailao Mountains of the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan, you will fnd the Hani people. They are said to be about family, hard work, laughter, and giving.

Now I take you on another journey, somewhat closer to home. There exists a tribe of like-minded and like-hearted people who are dedicated to making a positive difference in others’ lives. These people are your neighbors. Like you, they are parents, educators, professionals, students, and laborers who desire to look beyond themselves and make a difference in the world.

The Hani Coffee Company was formed by a handful of common people with an uncommon belief that life is found by giving it away. So a teacher, a lawyer, an aid worker, and an administrator all started on a journey to be a part of something bigger than themselves. "Life’s got to be about more than just working, playing, and accumulating, right?" proclaims Dave Bollenbacher, Executive Director of Kids Across Cultures (www.kidsacrosscultures.org). "It’s why we started Hani Coffee Company."

The Hani Coffee team is a humble group of men and women with a vision and the heart to see it through. Although there are many volunteers that make up this team, Craig Scoville, Dave Bollenbacher, Lance Battenfeld, Wes Bishop, and Russell King have been essential at different stages of this process. They have invested their time and efforts in being a blessing to the Hani people, and to providing a great cup of coffee that represents hope and friendship between two cultures. "Yeah, we love coffee, but what we’re really all about is caring. We want to make a difference in the lives of a people that seem to have been forgotten. We’re about more than just offering a premium product. We’re about investing in people. Our passion has been to bring Hani villagers clean water, accessible medical care, adequate nutrition, and better educational opportunities," explains Scoville.

The Hani (pronounced Ha Nee) are the poorest of China’s recognized minorities, but they are a people rich in culture. It’s a culture the Hani Coffee team wants to see fourish, not changed.