Ivan – Operation Manager and Trainer
It’s hard to believe our coffee project started ten years ago. Back then, we only had a capsule coffee machine and a hand-drip kettle. Since then, we’ve brewed countless cups of coffee, hosted many workshops, and set up several “Coffee Corners.” At the beginning, we never imagined we’d grow into such a professional team — now we have five internationally certified coffee trainers and four professional coffee tasters.
I once dreamed of opening a coffee shop. I didn’t expect that dream to come true in such a different way. Our coffee team has had the chance to travel to parts of Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America to provide coffee training. Every step of this journey has been full of meaning and blessings.
For some people, coffee is just a daily need. But it can also be a way to connect with others. Through teaching coffee brewing, we help young people build confidence, discover their life values, and understand their uniqueness. Coffee can even become a career — a new way to see the world. That’s what we call “Coffee’s Alternative.”
It’s already been over a year since I stepped away from running the coffee shop. Over the past year, I’ve been visiting schools, communities, and countries to promote coffee education. Now that I’m in the middle stage of life, I’ve been thinking more about my future work — should it just be about earning money, or should it also carry a deeper purpose?
My supervisor and I have a vision: to earn a year’s salary in eight months, and then spend four months focusing on coffee education and youth development. It’s a new model that combines career and social mission.
I often talk to young people about career planning. We work for about 45 years in our lives — if we do something we don’t enjoy, every day can feel like a struggle. I’m truly thankful I started learning coffee brewing ten years ago. Now, as a trainer helping others, I really love what I do.
If you’d like to support our work, you can join our coffee training classes, buy our coffee products, visit the Alternative Café, or donate to our organization. I hope you’ll join me on this meaningful coffee journey!