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Profession Barista

Re-Act

The Art of Coffee: Barista Skills for a Better Future

Empowerment through Professional Skills

The Barista Skills for a Better Future project empowered institutionalized youth from CBS “Angel Uzunov” by training them in professional coffee-making, helping them build confidence, acquire practical skills, and take the first steps toward social reintegration in the labor market and employment.

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Period:

01.02.2016 – 31.12.2027

Countries involved:

  • Bulgaria

Donor:

BCause Foundation

Program:

  • Co-financed by the competition at the “I Can” Fund
  • This project was implemented with support from private donations and Re-Act’s strategic volunteer network, demonstrating how much can be achieved with limited resources and strong partnerships.

Lead partner:

  • Re-Act Association

All partners:

  • Barista Coffee Academy Bulgaria – Professional training and mentorship
  • CBS “Angel Uzunov” – Rakitovo – Local institutional partner and host

Contacts:

Lyuben Georgiev
luben@re-act.bg

Hashtags:

#BaristaTraining #YouthEmpowerment #SkillsForInclusion #ReActProjects #SecondChances #CoffeeWithPurpose #SocialReintegration

Useful links:

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

For the very first time in Bulgaria, young people from a correctional institution became trained baristas.

Re-Act launched a groundbreaking project at the Angel Uzunov Educational Boarding School in Rakitovo, introducing the Barista profession as a tool for reintegration, empowerment, and hope. In partnership with the Barista Coffee Academy Bulgaria, the project trained 12 boys in the fine art of professional coffee preparation—espresso techniques, milk frothing, customer service, and more.

The initiative addressed the lack of professional opportunities for institutionalized youth—many of whom face educational gaps, social exclusion, and limited career perspectives. For these boys, becoming a barista wasn’t just about learning to make great coffee; it was about self-worth, discipline, and dreaming of a future outside institutional walls.

Led by professional trainers and supported by volunteers, the young participants went through an intense, hands-on course, culminating in their very first coffee-making event, where they proudly served drinks to staff, peers, and guests.

“We witnessed how, in just a few weeks, these boys’ confidence soared. Some of them said this was the first time they felt respected and valued,” shared Lyuben Georgiev, Chairman of Re-Act.

This project is not just about coffee: it’s about giving a second chance, professional orientation, and building bridges to real-world employment. Following the training, several boys were connected with local cafĂ©s and hospitality venues in the region for potential internship and job opportunities.

The Barista project was developed as a pilot initiative, with the goal to embed vocational programs like this in every correctional institution in the country. It complements Re-Act’s broader mission to create sustainable pathways for marginalized youth, combining non-formal education, hands-on skill-building, and genuine care.

OUTCOMES

  • 12 youth trained in barista skills
  • 1 barista station permanently installed in the institution
  • Boost in self-confidence, discipline, and team collaboration among participants
  • Public event attended by educators, partners, and guests
  • New employment prospects and vocational orientation

WHY IT MATTERS?

At Re-Act, we believe in second chances and the power of skills to transform lives. Through this project, a cup of coffee became a symbol of dignity, potential, and the warmth of a future that is still possible.

Let’s keep brewing HOPE – one cup at a time ☕

Gallery: Before & After:

Rebuilding the Barista center at CB “A. Uzunov” from Scratch