It is Bondi’s first social enterprise cafe. It will have an innovative employment programme, that aims to positively impact youth unemployment. Patrons can help to bridge the gap from unemployment to mainstream employment for some of Sydney’s most disadvantaged young people, while enjoying their morning coffee.
Through Wayside Chapel’s Wingspan Project, young people facing barriers to employment will receive paid hospitality traineeships within the busy cafe for 12 months. In addition, Heart Cafe trainees will receive a Cert II in hospitality, providing them with ongoing opportunities for employment in the industry.
Jon Owen, pastor and chief executive officer, Wayside Chapel, said, “We’re delighted to have the chance to bring a unique and fresh perspective to the Bondi cafe dining scene. Heart Cafe is one-of-a-kind and goes beyond quality coffee, healthy food and good service – it returns hope to the lives of unemployed young people by supporting them into paid hospitality traineeships and breaking the cycle of unemployment. Our aim is to create community and an opportunity for locals to give back. We know everyone in the Eastern Suburbs will embrace Heart Cafe as a new local meeting place.”
Mo Rosa, manager, Heart Cafe, and a Bondi Beach local, brings over 20 years of experience in the Eastern Suburbs restaurant and cafe scene to her new role. With hospitality in her DNA, she believes food should be joyous inside and out.
“The cafe will serve a delicious wholefood menu using fresh, local ingredients including some organic produce sourced directly from the Wayside Chapel community garden, less than 50 metre away – giving true meaning to our sustainable and local philosophy,” she said, adding, “It’s wonderful that the local community will be able to feel great in knowing that every dollar they spend, will be used for social good.”
