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A new school for Nonsoung’s Coffee Community

Arnolds-Nonsoung-school-coffee-community

Industry

Retail

Challenge

In Nonsoung, Laos, the overcrowded, run-down village school lacked basic facilities. Through coffee sales and community efforts, funds were raised to build a larger, fully functional school.

Results

The new school in Nonsoung now features spacious classrooms, modern amenities, and flexible spaces, boosting both education and community spirit.

Key Product

Specialty Coffee

30K+

Coffee Sourced

€24K+

Community impact

Our partnership with Slow reflects our commitment to social and responsibility. We are dedicated to creating meaningful change through development initiatives that support the community growing our coffee and are excited to witness the positive outcomes this project will bring to the children and families in Nonsoung Village.

Jussi Laurila

CEO Arnolds

Arnolds-Nonsoung school

About Arnolds

Arnolds is a Finnish café chain offering American-style treats such as bagels, smoothies and specialty coffees. With 30 independently run locations, it has operated since 1991.

The Challenge

In the Nonsoung coffee community of Laos, the village school was overcrowded and lacking basic facilities. Built in 1997, it had one room divided into three classes and a leaky roof, making it unsuitable for education.

The Solution

Through coffee sales, €0.80 from each kilogram purchased by Arnolds is allocated for community development. The community chose to use these funds to rebuild their school, creating a facility 2.5 times larger than the original.

The new school includes two classrooms, a staff room, toilets, and an outdoor area, fostering a better learning environment for all 45 students.

The farmers were so proud to be part of the realization of this project through their passion for producing coffee. — Bounlieb Keovangsa, Paksong District Education Service

The children endured a leaky roof at the old school, dividing one room into three classes. The new school has significantly improved this situation. — Khanasa Sitthidet, Teacher

The Results

The new school has significantly improved educational opportunities for children in Nonsoung. As Sebastian Nielsen, CEO of Slow, stated, “It’s truly an extraordinary project, made possible through the collective efforts of the community and the support of coffee drinkers like Arnolds’ guests in Finland.”

Images and video: © Slow/Saosavanh Ketmala