New ‘pay it forward’ café in Marsascala opening its doors with the hope of creating a ripple effect of kindness

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Joanna Demarco Wouldn’t a coffee taste so much better if you knew, as you sip it, that you are helping someone else? Next week, Jacob’s Brew is opening its doors in Marsascala. The café, whose social enterprise concept was inspired by a family’s struggle with trauma and survival, is built around the idea of creating a place to help and support others.

Sarah Cachia, the mother of Jacob Cachia, the teenager who survived a traumatic struggle against meningoencephalitis four years ago, spoke to The Malta Independent on Sunday about this innovative café and the projects in the pipeline planned solely to boost the morale of those going through a traumatic experience. So what is this ‘pay it forward’ concept? “Firstly, every person who chooses to come for a coffee at Jacob’s Brew is automatically paying it forward just by being a customer there. They are coming to a shop that offers a socially-conscious coffee for the first time in Malta,” Sarah said. The idea is that a percentage of annual profits will go towards the family’s socially-conscious projects and NGO ‘Survivors Malta’, which was co-founded by Sarah and Jacob in 2013. The NGO offers a community support-base for those going through a difficult time, encouraging each other to share experiences and support.

From another angle, the pay it forward idea will be executed by using little ‘pay it forward stamps’ given to each customer.

“When customers pay their bill, we will stamp the ‘pay it forward’ logo at the back of their receipt with no extra charges,” Sarah explained. “We are offering the customer the chance to pay it forward. Maybe they have a colleague at work, or a neighbour, or someone they meet, who is going through a traumatic time and needs support. That person can come to the café and we will give them a free pot of coffee,” she continued.

However, Sarah does not perceive the gesture as merely a ‘free pot of coffee’. “It is not the pot of coffee,” she stated, “it is the fact that you are inviting them to a place where they will be understood.”

To make the whole idea of this establishment even more of a ‘ pay it forward’ one, the refurbishment of the coffee shop was also coinciden ta l ly brought about in a ‘pay it forward’ act of kindness. “Best Deal Properties directors Erskine Vella and Chris Attard decided to pay it forward to my family by fully funding the refurbishment of the shop,” Sarah explained.

Jacob’s Brew will open this weekend during the feast of St Anne. It is located on Triq Salini, Marsascala