About Us
Owner and Founder:
Elsa Asrat
Born and raised in Ethiopia, Elsa Asrat founded Lalo Coffee to share the richness of Ethiopian coffee culture while supporting a mission close to her heart. Inspired by the Ethiopian word “Lalo,” meaning “ours,” Elsa views coffee as a means to foster unity, community, and connection. Through Lalo Coffee, she supports Loving and Leading Others, a nonprofit that empowers Ethiopian women and children living with HIV/AIDS, helping them build brighter futures.
One story that continually inspires Elsa is that of Tseday, a courageous woman and single mother impacted by HIV/AIDS, who overcame stigma and economic hardship with the support of Loving and Leading Others. Today, Tseday supports her family, uplifts other women, and symbolizes the resilience and potential that Lalo Coffee seeks to uplift. With every cup, Lalo Coffee fuels both community and positive change, creating opportunities for women like Tseday to thrive.
Our Mission:
Loving and Leading Others
Did you know that in Ethiopia, HIV positive women live as outcasts, undervalued and filled with low self-esteem?
Many of these women are suicidal because of sexual abuse, while others are financially unstable. They are not alone and we are here to help.
Born out of the personal experience, Loving and Leading Others (L&LO) saw the need to restore identity and inspire opportunities for women, especially women who are living under the shadow of death. By using biblical and leadership principles, we focus on loving others and teaching social identity: given, chosen, and core values. When people know they are unconditionally loved and significant, that is the beginning of authentic transformation – self-image changes, character develops, compassion for others emerges, and opportunity arises.
Established in 2017, Fresno, CA. L&LO is a grassroots, 5O1(c)3 faith-based non-profit, currently working in Addis Ababa and throughout Ethiopia, East Africa.
See more about the organization here:
https://www.lovingandleadingothers.org/index.html#/
Our Projects
Mentorship
We provide one on one mentoring and coaching in the area most needed. We listen and guide, creating a safe place to restore the ability to find their passion and self-discovery.
We teach them the essential wisdom of listening to their hearts and recognizing opportunities amid their adversity.
Healing
The depth of their mental and physical illnesses, their hurts, and abusive situations have placed these women in a vulnerable position. We provide and create a space for healing to take place in their hearts and make a conscious effort to listen and put ourselves in their shoes to better empathize, cultivate their souls, hearts, and minds.
Skills Training
Through our various skills training, we focus on the creative side equipping women to become valuable in the marketplace matching their abilities. We measure their development and their thriving in life as relevant outcomes.