' MY LIFE HAS CHANGED THANKS TO COFFEE ☕ An ideal climate and hilly terrain has seen generations of farmers grow Arabica coffee on Idjwi island in Lake Kivu, located between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. More recently, thousands of ex-combatants, including Koko Bikuba, say working here has changed their lives. "When we arrived in this place, people were afraid of us," the 37-year-old says. "My life has changed thanks to this work. I take care of six children who are studying." Though Mr Bikuba is reluctant to open up about his past, he says he "very much regrets having done so much harm to my country and especially to my community". Most of the former combatants here came from Masisi in DR Congo's North Kivu province, which has seen decades of fighting. The UN estimates that more than 120 militias operate across eastern DR Congo, which is rich in minerals often exploited by the armed groups.It clearly heartens Mr Bikuba that some people on Idjwi who initially wrote him and his colleagues off as "thieves and killers" have since warmed to them. "The turmoil of the forest is far from me now and I'm financially stable," he adds, thanks to his job in logistics on the plantation. Almost 2,400 former fighters are employed as farmers on Idjwi by the Co-operative Company of Innovative Coffee producers in Kivu (SCPNCK). They are mostly former militia fighters, although some, including Mr Bikuba, used to be soldiers, SCPNCK says. The co-operative sells to countries around the world including the US, France and Belgium. The coffee co-operative receives government funding and several ambassadors have visited to understand how it works, most recently the US ambassador to DR Congo, Mike Hammer. Arabica coffee from this area is appreciated for its "full-bodied, fruity" character that develops a medium acidity, explains Belgium-based buyer Isabelle Prigo. #Repost @mosessawasawa • • • • • • Idjwi . Check the link in bio . Moses Sawasawa for @bbcafrica #EveryDayNile 📍 DR Congo 🇨🇩 .#photojournalist #photooftheday #coffee #coffeehouse #bleumoutains #congolese #documentaryphotographer