Pascal Kalisa Memorial Fund
Donation protected
Our dear friend and colleague Pascal Gakwaya Kalisa lost his life in a car accident on February 4. His colleagues at World Coffee Research are mourning his loss, and we have launched this campaign to honor his memory and help his family cope financially. Pascal is survived by his wife, Gloriose, and four children.
Pascal leaves behind a deep legacy of service and devotion to coffee, and to his home country of Rwanda. Pascal was born into a coffee farming family. His career in coffee began more than 15 years ago, when he worked as an agronomist and coffee washing station manager with Rwanda's first specialty coffee washing station, MARABA. He worked as a sustainability and farmer relationship manager at KZNOIR Limited, where he supported 10,000 coffee farmers, managed certification program, and created projects to support the health and wellbeing of the local community. Pascal was involved in the SPREAD and PEARL projects with Dr. Tim Schilling in the mid-2000s as coffee quality manager; those programs launched Rwanda to becoming a mecca for specialty coffee and generated millions of dollars of value for the Rwandan economy. He was trained in coffee cupping, export processes, and coffee marketing. For WCR, Pascal built an unprecedented network of partnerships and farmer field trials in east Africa. He worked closely with the Rwandan Agriculture Board to support the launch of Africa's first collaborative breeding hub, the long-term impact of which will be felt in East Africa for decades to come. Just days before his death, Pascal had been promoted to Regional Coordinator for all of WCR's Africa programs.
Pascal was intelligent and funny. He was generous with his smile, his time, and his knowledge. He was the best colleague you could ask for -- offering support and guidance, asking challenging questions, modelling compassion and respect. We were honored to work alongside him, and we are devastated by his loss.
All who wish to join us are invited to honor Pascal's legacy and offer support and comfort to his family through a financial contribution. Funds will go directly to Pascal's wife, Gloriose, to use as she sees fit to care for the beautiful family she and Pascal created together.
Pascal leaves behind a deep legacy of service and devotion to coffee, and to his home country of Rwanda. Pascal was born into a coffee farming family. His career in coffee began more than 15 years ago, when he worked as an agronomist and coffee washing station manager with Rwanda's first specialty coffee washing station, MARABA. He worked as a sustainability and farmer relationship manager at KZNOIR Limited, where he supported 10,000 coffee farmers, managed certification program, and created projects to support the health and wellbeing of the local community. Pascal was involved in the SPREAD and PEARL projects with Dr. Tim Schilling in the mid-2000s as coffee quality manager; those programs launched Rwanda to becoming a mecca for specialty coffee and generated millions of dollars of value for the Rwandan economy. He was trained in coffee cupping, export processes, and coffee marketing. For WCR, Pascal built an unprecedented network of partnerships and farmer field trials in east Africa. He worked closely with the Rwandan Agriculture Board to support the launch of Africa's first collaborative breeding hub, the long-term impact of which will be felt in East Africa for decades to come. Just days before his death, Pascal had been promoted to Regional Coordinator for all of WCR's Africa programs.
Pascal was intelligent and funny. He was generous with his smile, his time, and his knowledge. He was the best colleague you could ask for -- offering support and guidance, asking challenging questions, modelling compassion and respect. We were honored to work alongside him, and we are devastated by his loss.
All who wish to join us are invited to honor Pascal's legacy and offer support and comfort to his family through a financial contribution. Funds will go directly to Pascal's wife, Gloriose, to use as she sees fit to care for the beautiful family she and Pascal created together.
Organizer
Hanna Neuschwander
Organizer
Portland, OR