COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Zarraffa's Coffee has always felt compelled to give back to the very community from which we operate, and therefore have displayed an active involvement in the local community. 

This approach has been suitably named the 'Backyard Policy'.  The aim of which is to take responsibility for the problems faced within our local community and by our nation.

Given the strong African representation of the organisation to create a relaxed, earthy theme throughout our stores, Zarraffa's Coffee could quite easily undertake community work within these countries, however, as an Australian organisation we feel that it is more important to focus on our native country's immediate threats.

Indeed, in these days of significant propensity for small business to fail in its early years, Zarraffa's Coffee has well served the local community.  Not only has it targeted some of the most prominent national issues i.e. the environment and childhood health, but Zarraffa's has also enhanced the image of the Gold Coast as an innovative, vibrant, conducive business environment.

Australian Wildlife Warriors Worldwide:

Most recently Zarraffa's Coffee undertook a fundraising/awareness campaign with the Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors.  The project, initiated by Bob Irwin, father of the late Steve Irwin, is the first of its kind researching the mortality rates of male koalas in the Blackbutt region.  Mr Bob Irwin and the Australian Wildlife Hospital staff observed a drastic decline in male koala survival rates, which prompted a $20,000 research project by the Australian Wildlife Warriors and the Australian Wildlife Hospital into the cause of this decline.  By the end of the fundraising period, through various means Zarraffa's Coffee was able to present the Australian Wildlife Warriors and Mr Bob Irwin with a $24,000 check, enough to more than cover the project for the year. This was a dream come true after our passion for wildlife had grown considerably as we learned more and more about our impact on our own environment.

Koalas are listed as a vulnerable species in Australia, and they are just one small step away from becoming endangered. Zarraffa's Coffee set out to not only raise the $20,000 needed to fund this research, but to spread awareness to our coffee drinking population (and beyond) that we can all do something to help.  We also aimed to communicate, as ambassadors for the Australian Wildlife Warriors, that Wildlife Conservation isn't just about the animals - it's also about our environment and the way we live as human beings.

Humans may well be the biggest threat to koala's and other Australian wildlife creatures, but we can also be their biggest hope.  It is for this very reason that Zarraffa's Coffee participates in Clean Up Australia Day every year.  By taking one day out to clean up our parks, streets and river systems, we take time to realise the damage that some of our little habits cost our environment over time.  This initiative has become critical to the philanthropic work that Kenton Campbell and the Zarraffa's Coffee group promote.

	Photo Gallery
	Koala Radio Tracking - Summary (pdf, 148kb)
	Koala Radio Tracking - Full Report (pdf, 380kb)

Cancer Research:

Zarraffa's Coffee plans to further their charitable work by undertaking awareness campaigns for Cancer Research in Queensland.  With Cancer being one of the top killers in Queensland - namely skin cancer due to our sun-kissed lifestyle, we feel it is our responsibility, not only to Queenslanders, but to future Queensland residents and tourists to educate people in the dangers of spending excessive amounts of time in our hot sun.  These campaigns are designed to raise much needed funds of course, but also build awareness in areas that we ourselves can make a difference.

Clean Up Australia Day:

Each year Zarraffa's Coffee participates in Clean Up Australia Day, Business Clean up. Tools go down and we don our bright coloured gloves and t-shirts to pick up the rubbish that pollutes our beaches, streets and waterways. Why? Because we believe this forms part our corporate responsibility to ensure that the community we live and work in (our backyard) is protected from the wear and tear of human development. You may be wondering about our contribution to this wear and tear as a business based on the sale of take-away goods; Zarraffa's Coffee is dedicated to continually finding methods of decreasing our environmental impact through research and sustainability efforts.

Product Donations:

Each year Zarraffa's Coffee supports Rotary International with product donations for use in raffle prizes to raise funds for various charities supported by the group.

Work Experience:

Work Experience is a new addition to the Zarraffa's Coffee community mix.  We are working on developing a system which allows the disadvantaged to gain work experience in our stores.  Clearly the tasks must be limited to maintain a safe working environment; however the tasks are also set in accordance with the individual's abilities.  The program helps the disadvantaged to develop skills in a real working environment which are critical to their growth and future job prospects.

Guest Speaking:

Managing Director Kenton Campbell is often involved in guest speaking roles to various educational and business facilities i.e. universities, schools, business forums, and meetings and also religious communities looking for entrepreneurial motivation and an all-round good story.  All money raised through this medium is donated to charitable organisations.