KN-LWF chair, director, and staff at the office building, which also hosts the “Silent Coffee” café. Photo: Ari Sihotang
KN-LWF Indonesia launches the learning hub “Silent Coffee – A Cup of Hope”
(LWI) – With a new initiative, “Silent Coffee – A Cup of Hope,” The Lutheran World Federation National Committee in Indonesia (KN-LWF) aims to create employment opportunities and enhance skills development for people with disabilities from Lutheran churches in Indonesia.
“Silent Coffee – A Cup of Hope” is more than a café. It is a symbol of inclusivity, empowerment, and social transformation. The café, run by individuals with hearing impairments, provides a unique experience where visitors can engage in a meaningful and inclusive setting while enjoying high-quality coffee.
The KN-LWF’s new learning hub will serve as a training ground for individuals with disabilities, equipping them with barista skills, business management knowledge, and communication training tailored to their unique needs. The learning hub will also offer entrepreneurship, customer service, and financial literacy training programs, ensuring sustainable empowerment for its participants. In addition, it will function as an educational space to promote awareness about workplace inclusivity in the broader community.
Evaena Febrieni Sumbayak, KN-LWF Education, Gender Justice, Child Policy, Disability Program Officer, at the inauguration of the “Silent Coffee” café. Photo: Ari Sihotang
The first step in this project will be training about five hearing-impaired people in collaboration with the “Sunyi Akademi” in Jakarta (sunyi means silent). The 40-day training will cover making coffee, ways to interact with people and becoming waiters and baristas. The trainees will then apply their skills in the “Silent Coffee” café. In addition, they will share their knowledge with as many other hearing-impaired people as possible.
Creating equal opportunities
The learning hub was inaugurated on 7 March during the KN-LWF Indonesia annual meeting in Pematangsiantar. “This learning hub represents our commitment to creating equal opportunities for all individuals, without exception,” said Rev. Dr. Robinson Butarbutar, Chair of KN-LWF Indonesia, during his inauguration address. “We believe that every person, including those with disabilities, has great potential to be nurtured and supported. This space will train individuals and foster a culture of dignity, inclusion, and contribution.”
This learning hub represents our commitment to creating equal opportunities for all individuals, without exception.
Rev. Dr. Robinson Butarbutar, Chair of KN-LWF Indonesia
Rev. Rospita Siahaan, LWF Regional Secretary for Asia, also attended the inauguration. She commended KN-LWF for setting this example for building an inclusive community. “This is in line with a central aspect of the new LWF strategy ‘Sharing Hope’,” she said. “The ‘silent cup’ initiative truly builds a community of hope."
KN-LWF Director Rev. Dedi Pardosi expressed his deep gratitude for the support and collaboration that made this project a reality: “Establishing ‘Silent Coffee - A Cup of Hope’ is a collective achievement. It results from numerous discussions with member churches, ensuring that this initiative belongs to all of us. KN-LWF Indonesia is not just an organization; it is a movement. This learning hub is for and by all of us.”
