SEPTEMBER 2025 Coffee World Change Initiative
A Journey of Connection: Serving Lunch and Securing Futures in Mathare
The true spirit of the Coffee World Change programme has always been about connection. It’s one thing to send support from afar, but it’s an entirely different, profound experience to stand side-by-side with the communities we hope to serve. This September, we were incredibly fortunate to have two of our team representatives travel to Kenya & Tanzania to visit the organisations we support, most notably spending meaningful days at the Young Teens In Talent (YTIT) hub in Mathare.
The centrepiece of our visit was a celebration, funded by Coffee World Change, that truly embodied community spirit. But this was no ordinary catered event. Our team rolled up their sleeves, diving headfirst into the entire process. We joined the YTIT team in all the preparations from shopping for ingredients, marinating chicken to BBQ on a makeshift grill, and learning the rhythms of cooking a massive meal using the outdoor cooker Coffee World Change funded back in August 2024. The real joy came from serving a generous lunch to over 150 people – including the 100+ YTIT members and other valued members of the local community. It was a humbling and joyful day of shared effort and shared food, strengthening the bond between our teams immeasurably.
However, our visit was also a powerful reminder of the urgent, everyday challenges the community faces. In conversations with Moses, we learned that a pressing issue was threatening the education of dozens of their members: over 40 children and young adults supported by the hub were out of school at that very moment due to overdue fees.
In the spirit of swift, direct action that defines Coffee World Change, we knew we had to respond immediately. Before the visit was over, we had stepped in to clear the overdue fees for 15 of their members, ranging from primary school students to diploma students. We were also overjoyed to learn that the remaining members’ fees were covered by other organisations and well-wishers, showing the power of collective effort. Within a couple of days, fees were settled and members were back in their uniforms and in their classrooms to complete the school year.
This trip was more than a visit; it was a confirmation. It reinforced why we dedicate a percentage of our annual profits to this cause and the power of our on-going partnership and commitment to organisations like Young Teens In Talent.
To Moses and the entire YTIT family, thank you for your breathtaking hospitality and for allowing us to be a part of your story in such a personal way. We returned home with full hearts and a renewed commitment to our partnership and our mission.