Melbourne couple opens fair trade cafe with asylum seeker staff
From the Art is chuffed to announce the opening of a social enterprise cafe and retail shop in just a few short months’ time. In the meantime, owners Crystal Fickers and Trishay Trada are running a crowdfunding campaign to fund the start-up.
Located in Ashwood, in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, From the Art will serve up specialty organic tea and coffee from a sustainable fair trade source. Every cup of coffee will support STREAT, a local organisation working to end youth homelessness.
From the Art plans to hire and create jobs for asylum seekers/refugees and introduce them to the local hospitality industry. After spending an average of over a year in immigration detention, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre finds that refugees often have trouble finding work once in Australia. From the Art will provide employment training and friendship to a few good people in need of open arms.
In addition to helping local residents, the retail gift items in the shop will benefit remote communities around the world. Bracelets made from old Cambodian bomb shells and handbags from recycled Indian cloths line the shelves at From the Art. Customers can buy quality handmade crafts and feel rewarded for doing so.
To support this venture, the owners are running a crowdfunding campaign on popular website Indiegogo. Their page asks for donations and offers ample rewards for all support given.
To find out more, please visit: http://igg.me/at/FromTheArt
‘From the Art: ethical gifts and handicrafts’ is set to open in late-August.