What we did

Our first pilot group of East African women gathered at Impact Roasters’ Flintholm St. Coffee shop/Roastery, led by Winta Tesfatsion. As outlined in our project vision, this initiative is dedicated to empowering African women in Denmark through coffee, culture, and community—creating sustainable pathways to entrepreneurship, ownership, and social inclusion. 

• We introduced the vision and mission: blending Denmark’s rich coffee culture with East Africa’s heritage, so that coffee shops/roasteries become not only businesses but vibrant cultural platforms.  
• We shared the path ahead: training in coffee roasting, coffee shop operations, business management, and moving from:
  employment → entrepreneurship → co‑ownership.  
• We used the meeting to listen: the women shared their backgrounds, asked their first questions and connected with each other — setting the tone for a supportive peer network.

Key questions we answered

“What support will I get?” We explained the dual structure of the project: through the social arm (the Foundation) they’ll access training, mentorship and community integration; through the business arm (the Cooperative) they can eventually co‑own and run coffee shops/roasteries under the Impact brand.  

“Why coffee?” Because coffee originates in East Africa, and yet the women who stewarded its tradition are rarely seen as coffee shop/roastery owners. We believe every coffee shop/roastery can be a cultural doorway hosting Ethiopian coffee ceremonies, telling origin stories, and inviting Danish patrons to “drink the origin.”  

“What does the pilot of 20 mean?” It means deep, tailored support. This first cohort will not only build their businesses, but serve as ambassadors and mentors for future women.  

Why it matters

This project is more than coffee. It’s about representation, community and inclusion. For these women entrepreneurs, it’s a chance to shape their own future. For Danish society, it’s a way to deepen cultural exchange and create coffee shops/roasteries that reflect global roots. For coffee drinkers, it means enjoying excellent brews with real story and purpose behind each cup.

What’s next

• The training program kicks off: coffee roasting, barista skills, business basics.
• We’ll be organising regular peer‑meetups so the cohort supports each other and grows together.
• Later this year we’ll begin building the first flagship coffee shop/roastery a space run by these women, for everyone who cares about good coffee and meaningful stories.

Stay tuned for updates, behind‑the‑scenes photos (like those we captured at the meeting!) and personal stories from our new entrepreneurs. We’re excited — and grateful — to have you on this journey with us.

If you’d like to know more or support the project, get in touch. Together we’ll brew something powerful.

The post Our Journey Begins: IMPACT COOPERATIVES first appeared on IMPACT COOPERATIVES.