Empowering Women of African Background in Coffee
To empower women of African background in Denmark with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to become business owners, leaders, and active contributors to the Danish economy and society.
A Denmark where women of African background are not only participants in the labor market, but owners, decision-makers, and creators of shared value, in coffee, culture, and beyond.
What We Do
Impact Academy delivers structured, practical training programs designed to prepare women for entrepreneurship and cooperative ownership.
Our programs combine:
- Professional skills training
- Business and financial education
- Real-world internships
- Mentorship and long-term support
Training is rooted in practice, dignity, and community, not theory alone.
Classroom Training (3 months)
Participants receive training in:
Barista skills and café operations
Practical training in coffee preparation, equipment handling, daily café workflows, and professional service standards in a real café environment.
Coffee roasting fundamentals
An introduction to the basics of coffee roasting, including roast profiles, flavor development, and quality control from green bean to finished coffee.
Customer service and Danish service culture
Training in professional customer interaction, workplace communication, and the expectations, values, and service standards.
Bookkeeping and basic accounting
Basic training in recording income and expenses, understanding costs, and managing simple accounts to support daily operations and small businesses.
Entrepreneurship and cooperative business models
An introduction to starting and running small businesses, with a focus on cooperative ownership, shared responsibility, and sustainable decision-making.
Leadership, communication, and confidence
Training focused on building self-confidence, clear communication, teamwork, and the leadership skills needed to take responsibility in work and business settings.
Internship & Practice (3 months)
Hands-on experience in real businesses
From Practice to Ownership
Participants complete supervised internships in real cafés, gaining hands-on experience, increasing responsibility, and receiving ongoing mentorship.
Graduates are supported to move toward ownership pathways through Impact Cooperatives or other entrepreneurial routes.
Next Steps After Training
After completing the program, participants are eligible to:After completing the program, participants are eligible to:
- Join Impact Cooperatives as shop owners, or
- Launch or join other small businesses with ongoing support.
Who We Focus On
- Women of African background living in Denmark
- Women with talent and motivation, regardless of formal education
- Women seeking ownership, independence, and long-term stability
No academic background is required: commitment and motivation matter most.
Impact Academy is founded by:
Meet the passionate professionals driving Impact Academy’s mission forward.
Daniel Halalla
Founder of Impact Roasters & Impact Cooperatives
Winta Tesfatsion
Coffee shop owner and cooperative role model
The Academy is governed by a board and operates transparently as a Danish non-profit forening.
Our Training Locations
Impact Academy’s training programmes take place across a network of real, working coffee shops and roasterys’ environments in Copenhagen.
These locations function as learning spaces, where participants receive hands-on training, mentorship, and practical experience as part of the Academy’s six-month programme
All training locations are operated in collaboration with Impact Coffee and provide professional, supervised environments that reflect real business operations.
Below is an overview of Impact Academy’s current training locations.
Impact Roasters – Roastery & Training Space
This location serves as Impact Academy’s primary classroom and roasting training space, hosting theoretical instruction, group sessions, and practical roasting education.
Blushøjvej 10,
2450 Rødovre, Copenhagen
Impact Roasters – Coffee shop
This location functions as an internship and practical training site, focusing on coffee shop operations, customer service, and daily business routines.
Valby Langgade 128,
2500 Valby, Copenhagen
Impact Roasters – Coffee shop/Roastery
Hands-on training in barista skills, workflow, and team-based service.
Griffenfelds Gade 4C,
2200 Copenhagen N
Impact Roasters – Coffee shop/Roastery
Practical training in small business operations and responsibility under supervision.
Tapperitorvet 36,
1799 København V (Carlsbergbyen)
Impact Roasters – Coffee shop/Roastery
Hands-on training in barista skills, workflow, and team-based service.
Mellemtofte vej 1A,
2500 Valby, Copenhagen
Relationship with Impact Cooperatives
Impact Academy and Impact Cooperatives are independent legal entities with a shared mission.
Impact Academy is a non-profit organization responsible for training, education, and empowerment.
The Academy prepares women.
The Cooperative enables ownership.
This separation ensures:
Transparency for funders
Clear separation of training and ownership ensures transparency for funders.
Protection of the women
Clear structures that ensure the protection, rights, and well-being of the women throughout the programme.
Long-term sustainability of both structures
Independent structures designed to ensure long-term sustainability and responsible growth.
Why This Model Works
1.
Training reduces risk for women and funders
2.
Internships ensure readiness before ownership
3.
Cooperative ownership builds dignity and stability
4.
Local businesses strengthen Danish communities
A Real Learning Environment
Impact Academy continuously evaluates and expands its training locations in line with programme development and participant needs.
By training in real coffee shops and roastery spaces, participants gain practical experience in environments that reflect everyday business realities. This approach strengthens confidence, professional readiness, and long-term sustainability.