Coffee For A Cause – Giving Back To The Community
Coffee Culture Thailand
Find The Roast You Love Most - Coffee Drinkers, Businesses & Export Local Thai Coffee Beans Available In One Online Shop
Coffee Culture Thailand – More Than Just An Online Coffee Store In Thailand
Coffee Culture was launched when there was no online shop to search and buy Thai roast coffee easily. But it wasn’t founded just to be an online store for coffee drinkers. Susan, a half Thai / Finnish lady living in Phuket, launched this idea (with a massive push from her husband Daniel) right in the middle of the pandemic. Buying fresh roast Thai coffee beans was nearly impossible to do if you didn’t know how to read or write in Thai, or if you didn’t drop by to the super market. So we launched this to be an online store where you can find local Thai coffee beans with a door to door delivery service.
Our focus is to truly uplift the local Thai coffee both domestically and internationally, but not only this. When the pandemic hit, it effected everyone and even more so those who were already struggling. I consider myself very fortunate. There are so many people out there who are unable to support themselves, not because they are lazy, but because they just don’t have the means to do so. Whether it is disabled, abandoned as a little child, I saw so many people who are truly in need and are not getting the help they need. I decided then and there that if I could make a difference and help somehow through coffee, I would. So here’s what we have done so far:
COFFEE WITH A CAUSE – GIVING BACK TO THE THAI COMMUNITY
And so began the journey to roll-out the Coffee For A Cause program. Not only creating a sustainable coffee economy in Thailand, but also giving back to the community who are in need. I mean, why not turn a delicious cup of coffee into an act of kindness as well?
COFFEE THAT UPLIFTS THAI COFFEE ROASTERS & COFFEE FARMERS
This is the first cause and the reason why we started Coffee Culture in the first place. I started Coffee Culture amidst the pandemic in 2020 with an aim to uplift the support of Thai locally farmed coffee and roasters. Not only just in Thailand, but to bring awareness and drive through exports for Thai coffee. When I say Thai coffee, I mean several Thai coffee plantations and roasters throughout Thailand, not those belonging to big corporate brands. But it doesn’t stop there, I always wanted to make a difference to the Thai community, whether it’s for abandoned elders, or kids in need.
COFFEE THAT SUPPORTS HILL TRIBES
I always believed that the most sustainable and effective way to help hill tribe communities around Thailand is to support their livelihood and trade, rather than donating items or money. There are around 7 major hill tribes in Thailand, some of which include the Karen, the Akha, the Hmong and the Lahu. And each of these hill tribes have their own unique culture, customs and language. Coffee Culture started this cause by simply working together with them on an organic coffee product line which was both grown and roasted directly by them. Allowing us and coffee drinkers to support the Lahu hill tribe in Chiang Mai since October 2020.
Check out the coffees that supports hill tribes: https://coffeeculture.asia/product/single-origin-organic-arabica-coffee-thailand/
COFFEE THAT FEEDS FAMILIES
Thailand is NOT considered to be a high rank in the Global Hunger Index, but since the pandemic and economic recession throughout the world, it is causing a problem for many poor and low-income families in Thailand. And this is mainly because over the last several years, Thailand has made impressive progress in reducing poverty. Which is one of the reasons why we have incorporated a donation for 1 life bag with every purchase of our Organic Coffee back in May 2021. The life bags provide food and the essentials for a family of 4 for up to 4 days. For this cause we are working with One Phuket to support the vulnerable families in Phuket, and hope to be able to one day expand to other cities as well.
See which coffees you can buy to help make a difference: https://coffeeculture.asia/coffee-tag/coffee-that-feeds-families/
COFFEE THAT FEEDS CHILDREN
With such a high rate of orphaned children in Thailand, it makes it hard as a mom to overlook this issue. UNICEF estimates that around one million children live in poverty, have lost parental care, have a disability or are forced to live on the streets. While there are many orphanages throughout Thailand, the ones that are usually in need aren’t being supported because they are harder to find for both foreigners and Thai businesses. My aim with this is to support several small local orphanages / foundations who are truly struggling to feed the children they are taking onboard.
And to do so I have incorporated a donation of 10% of our top 3 best selling Thai / imported coffee blends. Where these funds will not be donated as cash, but instead used for us to purchase crucial items as well as items that are usually overlooked such as Vitamin C, juices, healthy snacks, etc. What people tend to overlook is to provide items like toys, chocolates or sweets to orphaned kids as they see it as a NOT NECESSARY item. When in fact it truly is. Here’s why I say that toys, chocolates and sweets are those small things that creates happiness in a child. And happiness encourages kindness and good moral character. Children who are happy are much more likely to be kind to others and to avoid anti-social activity, in return breaking the cycle.
Take a look at some of the coffees that contributes to orphaned kids in Thailand: https://coffeeculture.asia/coffee-tag/coffee-that-feeds-orphaned-kids/
UPLIFTING THAI ART & ARTISTS IN THAILAND
Coffee Culture was built on the ethos of supporting local, and we aim to uplift local Thai artists through unique coffee merchandises. Collaborating with these artists ensures that their craft reaches a wider audience, which can help them elevate their status worldwide.
Check out these art: https://coffeeculture.asia/coffee-tag/uplifting-local-thai-artists/
COFFEE THAT SAVES STREET DOGS & CATS
Coffee that feeds stray dogs and cats makes a difference in the lives of Phuket’s abandoned or injured dogs and cats that live on the street with no home to call their own. 10% of every purchase of the below coffee goes towards the Rawaii Animal Lovers Foundation.
Check out the product line which contributes to this: https://coffeeculture.asia/coffee-tag/coffee-that-feeds-dogs-cats/
COFFEE THAT PROVIDES ENGLISH LESSONS
One of the biggest issues in Thailand when it comes to the next generation is that kids are simply not being taught English in their schools. Because of the lack of English education in terms of reading, writing and speaking in the local Thai community is what started our project to begin with.
They are not provided opportunities where they can constantly use their English to further improve their ability. And so with this foundation, we want to make a difference for the future by addressing the root of the issue. We hope to soon introduce product lines which would fund english classes in local areas throughout Thailand.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Aside from the above, I am constantly looking for ways to further incorporate other causes to our coffee project. Causes such as reducing carbon footprint to the world, as well as coffee that would help contribute into providing English lessons to local Thai kids (those less fortunate than other).
COFFEE THAT PROVIDES ENGLISH LESSONS
One of the biggest issues in Thailand when it comes to the next generation is that kids are simply not being taught English in their schools. Because of the lack of English education in terms of reading, writing and speaking in the local Thai community is what started our project to begin with.
They are not provided opportunities where they can constantly use their English to further improve their ability. And so with this foundation, we want to make a difference for the future by addressing the root of the issue. We hope to soon introduce product lines which would fund English classes in local areas throughout Thailand.
We are always looking for new ways to truly make a difference, so if you have any ideas or would like to work together with us, please do drop me an email to susan@coffeeculture.asia.