The Search is on!

Drink My Coffee is a New Zealand social project launched by Adrian Coysh to help people with a disability establish their very own coffee distribution business while also being supported by Adrian and his team.

Hi, my name is Adrian Coysh I help Kiwi’s with a disability get into their very own Coffee distribution business.

Why?

There is a large, untapped pool of New Zealanders who face silent discrimination, based purely upon their disability.  They would love to be a contributing member of society and would like nothing better than to be gainfully employed and to not to be on a benefit and dependent on the Government for income.

Despite the best endeavours of many dedicated people looking to change the status quo, this seems to be an unreachable dream for many.  At a meeting of the Bay of Plenty Inclusive Employment Taskforce, a collective of organisations seeking to find employment for disabled people, one member introduced Jeremy Staines, who lives with Cerebral Palsy.

“Jeremy has been unemployed for eight years and would do anything to get a job.  Please promote him to all of your contacts and give him a chance for a proper positive change in his life”.

This simple request was to have a profound impact.  All else has previously failed and Jeremy has not been given the opportunity of employment, so the alternative would have to be self-employment.  An idea that I had been germinating was suddenly an opportunity… 

Drink my Coffee

I knew of a well-established coffee importer, and the idea was to have premium coffee from Colombia and Papua New Guinea roasted, and shipped to self-employed people who live with a disability to distribute to their local networks, to create a living for themselves.

And Drink My Coffee was born. The search is now on to find the distributors who want to change their lives for the better following in the footsteps of Jeremy and Rohan, whose stories follow. 

Jeremy with his first customer

Jeremy’s story

“My name is Jeremy I have lived in Tauranga for 27 years and I am well known in my local community.  Having Cerebral Palsy has made it difficult for me to gain employment because many potential employers are apprehensive about dealing with people with disabilities.”

“I had a longing, as does any young married man, to be a valued working member of society, and the solution was to set up my own business. I love being able to personally sell coffee face to face, and with my passionate sales manner, I am able to encourage sales and gain well-earned job satisfaction. People are enthusiastic about purchasing ethical, top quality fresh coffee along with the added bonus of helping a person with special needs run a micro business.”

“As I am a people person and love coffee 'Drink My Coffee' this is a perfect business for me. It is great to be selling a quality product to people who enjoy excellent coffee.”

Rohan - West Auckland Coffee Distributor

Rohan’s story

“I have dwarfism (achondroplasia) with slight hearing loss and other health conditions that are linked with being a little person.

Before getting work with The Cookie Project last year I had a hard time finding a real job. This year has been hard again with COVID-19, so I volunteered my time to help my brother who has Autism with his schooling online while we were in lockdown. After the lockdown, I applied for a second job with “drink my coffee” as a distributor for West Auckland and helping with packing in the near future.

I love being employed with “drink my coffee” because I can finally use my skills while I am out and about with the community promoting  “drink my coffee” and talking to new people.

I have family and friends who have different types of disabilities and they have had or still have the same problems I have experienced in finding a job and getting support.

My advice is to try and get in the door with “drink my coffee” and we will support each other in our communities. This is a great opportunity and will help you build some really positive skills.  

How Adrian helps

I have been contacted by many parents of disabled people, worried about the future of their children, and particularly their employment prospects.  Our initiative appeals to them, especially if they live in smaller towns and their children cannot find jobs and don’t want to move away. 

We can help them with information and tips on how to successfully sell the coffee – and in the future sell other products manufactured by people with disabilities. 

Please share this message and look us up on www.drinkmycoffee.co.nz if you are interested in finding out more.

Adrian Coysh, Founder

adrian@drinkmycoffee.co.nz

021 474-462