Angela’s coffee farm used to provide a good living for her family. But now she’s facing a crisis. The changing climate in Nicaragua means her coffee harvests are shrinking every year.

Angela explains, “When I was a kid, the weather was totally different. It’s been changing a lot and we don’t know when it’s the rainy season or the dry season.

“There’s been days with rain, then days with lots of sun. The sun scorches the coffee beans, we can’t sell them and we're losing more every year.”

Nicaragua is the second poorest country in Latin America. It is also one of the countries most affected by climate change. Some 80% of the population depend on agriculture for survival. Many grow coffee as their main source of income. As the climate crisis rages on, their future looks more and more uncertain.

But there is hope. With your support, Angela’s community is coming together as a local cooperative to share resources and knowledge and urgently protect their livelihoods.

The cooperative is supported by Christian Aid’s local partner, Soppexcca. They help Angela’s community come together with lots of different initiatives and projects.

One of the main ways they are helping farmers protect their livelihoods is by shifting from coffee production to climate-resistant cocoa. This is known as diversification.

As part of the cocoa project, Angela received 700 cocoa plants, which will be ready to harvest next year.

She says: ‘In my cooperative there are 10 farmers growing cocoa but I’m proud that I’m the only woman. The income from the cocoa crop is very important. It means we can buy clothes, medicines and food.

‘I think cocoa will be the only option in the future because of how climate change is affecting the coffee.’ 

Will you reach out to your global neighbours like Angela with the gift of cocoa saplings?