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Doing
something for a great cause has never been as endearing or as easy as having a
cup of freshly brewed coffee. Indeed, that is an opportunity given to every
customer who dines at Shepherd’s Heart Café in Cebu City. Every cup of coffee assists
in the advocacy of helping women survivors of abuse claim their rights to a
dignified future.
The humble café located
right across the mammoth structure of the Heritage of Cebu Monument in Parian
is a sustainable livelihood project initiative of Good Shepherd Welcome House (http://gswh-cebu.org/)
through the efforts of United States Peace Corps volunteer Amelia Kent and Roy
Adam, an Australian volunteer.
The
café is aimed at empowering the beneficiaries of Good Shepherd Welcome House
(GSWH) by giving them decent work opportunities as well as providing them with
the necessary skills trainings. In this line, the venture goes beyond being an
income generating project and ultimately becoming a training facility for GSWH
clients. Truly, the reintegration process of center-based clients into a highly
discriminating community has never been this exciting.
The
doors of Shepherd’s Heart Café initially opened last May 28, 2014. GSWH clients
who underwent coffee-making and service trainings, among others, became key
personalities in the day-to-day operations while Kent and Adam managed the café
setup. Even while in soft operations, the café has received several positive
ratings and endorsements from various guests including award-winning author
Cecilia Manguerra Brainard and East West owner Hendri Go. As a matter of fact, the
air-conditioning unit at the café is a donation made by Brainard following her
conversations with Kent and Adam.
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What
makes a visit to Shepherd’s Heart Café special? In addition to getting their
food cravings satisfied for a noble cause, customers are also supporting
various local industries as they get to taste the delicious products our fellow
Filipinos have to offer. In particular, the coffee beans support a group of
Indigenous Filipinos in the Ifugao province, which is why the highlight of your
gustatory visit to the café should be a cup of freshly brewed coffee. Also, we
guarantee you’ve never tasted coffee this good at such an affordable price.
On the celebration of Mother Mary’s birthday, Shepherd’s Heart Café held its grand
opening. The September 8, 2014 launch was attended by representatives of the
Religious of the Good Shepherd community and other partner agencies of GSWH.
The guests were treated to beverages and food products of their choice while they
engaged in animated conversations as they lounged in the homey dining area. The
cosy atmosphere is attributable to the pleasant service crew and the
rattan-inspired interiors; where the latter is thanks to renowned local
furniture designer Fernando Villarin’s ingenuity.
Today, Shepherd’s
Heart Café is fully operational. All café responsibilities have been turned
over to the GSWH beneficiaries. The menu offers a number of coffee choices, and
an assortment of healthy grilled sandwiches, and several pastry options, among
others. The café is open from Monday to Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Inquiries, orders, and donations can be coursed through GSWH at
(+63)(32)254-5598.
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