The Ground UP Barista Academy, an initiative of Learn to Earn, trains unemployed people to become baristas. We now need to raise R75 000 to help fund the 2nd coffee unit, which will cover: a two-group Commercial Espresso machine (R55 000) & automatic dosing, heavy duty grinder (R20 000). Your donations will provide an opportunity to an entrepreneur to earn an income, while being mentored in running a franchise business. By partnering with the unemployed, we change lives from Ground UP
Ground UP Barista Academy funding for 2nd Mobile Unit
Coffee can change lives – one cup of hope at a time!
Ground UP Barista Academy is a market-related training programme that meets the growing demand for entry-level barista skills in the South African coffee industry.
Cape Town based social enterprise, Learn to Earn (LtE), launched the initiative in 2014, with the aim of creating economic opportunities for the unemployed and the belief that there is hope in every cup. Since launching in 2015 the Academy has transformed the lives of 68 people. They have gone on to work in coffee shops, restaurants and cafes, or in our Ground UP Mobile coffee unit.
We now need to raise at least R75 000 to begin setting-up the 2nd coffee unit, which will cover:
– A two-group Commercial Espresso machine (R55 000)
– Automatic dosing, heavy duty grinder (R20 000)
Your donations will provide an opportunity to a barista entrepreneur to earn an income, while being mentored in running a franchise business.
Learn to Earn is a skills development and job creation NPO with the key goal of equipping unemployed and economically disadvantaged people with skills that will make them employable or self-employed, and creating economic opportunities.
Ground UP’s 8 week training programme, uses coffee as a vehicle for human and economic development by training students in basic barista, life and job readiness skills.
Some graduates with an entrepreneurial spirit, like Zolani Mayile, participate in the Ground UP Mobile Barista programme. Here, we mentor the entrepreneur, taking them on a 3 year journey, where they start and grow their own Ground UP franchise coffee business. The mentorship programme nurtures and equips Ground UP Baristas with technical and business skills to ensure a healthy approach to business. The aim is for them to operate their business from a Ground UP trailer, Tuk Tuk or corporate Café solution.
By partnering with the unemployed, we change lives from the Ground UP.
This is not just a coffee!
How You Can Get Involved
Ground UP Barista Academy is a market-related training programme that meets the growing demand for entry-level barista skills in the South African coffee industry.
Cape Town based social enterprise, Learn to Earn (LtE), launched the initiative in 2014, with the aim of creating economic opportunities for the unemployed and the belief that there is hope in every cup.