Building a Legacy of Women’s Leadership in Rural Peru
In Peru's San Martín region, coffee farmer Layit Vargas Tello learned skills that helped her transform from a quiet participant in her coffee cooperative to a leader in her community.
Layit Vargas Tello remembers the woman she used to be: quiet, hesitant, and relegated to the sidelines when important decisions were made. The idea of public speaking terrified her. Today, at 56, she stands before her peers as the president of the women’s committee of the Oro Verde Coffee Cooperative. In her role, she advocates for gender equality and helps other women find their voices.
As rural women, we sometimes find it hard to believe that we can lead or speak in front of others. But when you dare and receive support, everything changes.”
A Life Rooted in Coffee and Community
For over two decades, Layit and her husband have been members of the Oro Verde Coffee Cooperative in the Alonso de Alvarado Roque district of San Martín, Peru. Oro Verde is one of the largest cooperatives in San Martín, with 315 members who grow coffee and cocoa.
Layit lives with her husband, daughter, and two grandchildren on their nearby farm. Together, they cultivate three hectares of coffee. Their farm is a testament to their commitment to quality and sustainability.
But Layit’s impact extends far beyond the harvest. Her transformation from a shy cooperative member to a confident leader illustrates how investing in women’s leadership can create ripple effects throughout entire communities.
Discovering New Skills Through CAFE Amazonía Resiliente
The catalyst came through the CAFE Amazonía Resiliente project, implemented by TechnoServe with funding from JDE Peet’s. In April 2025, Layit joined the program and participated in specialized training on communication skills, leadership, and women’s empowerment.
She now has a greater ability to bring people together and feels more confident leading meetings within the women’s committee. She can establish an agenda with clear objectives, facilitate meetings, and achieve consensus among the committee members.
She also leads training sessions on women’s empowerment in spaces that extend beyond the cooperative itself. She participates in community assemblies to foster leadership among new women in the coffee supply chain, in their homes, and in their communities.
“I used to be afraid to speak in public, but thanks to the leadership training, I now feel confident,” she shared. “As women, we must always be prepared, even to lead our farm.”
Through these sessions, Layit discovered something crucial: leadership is built, learned, and shared in community.
Building a Legacy of Leadership
As president of the women’s committee, Layit has transformed it into a vital space for mutual support and growth. Women are boosting their self-esteem, taking on key responsibilities, and participating more actively in cooperative meetings and decision-making.
Her influence extends beyond her formal role in the cooperative. Inspired by her example, other women in the cooperative now participate in productive activities and leadership opportunities with greater confidence.
“For us, this has been truly special because it’s the first time that only women have been invited to discuss such important topics,” shared Delfina Chanta, another woman in the cooperative. “In other spaces, we hardly ever had a say, but here we feel that our voice matters. They listen to us, respect us, and encourage us to participate.”
“Real change starts when someone simply dares to speak out,” Layit added, words that now guide her work nurturing the next generation of women leaders.