Today marks an important milestone for us at KereKere — it’s our 18th birthday! But rather than looking back, we’re choosing to look ahead, because with every new chapter comes a new challenge. We’ve always had a tendency to move towards difficulty, embracing challenges as opportunities to grow and enrich communities.

When we started as a small coffee cart at The University of Melbourne in 2007, the vision was clear: to serve great coffee and bring people together. Inspired by the Fijian custom of "kerekere," which encourages asking and giving without expectation, we built our foundation on community, generosity, and shared purpose.

These values shaped everything we do, from expanding to locations like KereKere South at Boyd Community Hub and KereKere Green in Fitzroy Gardens to collaborating on projects that bring joy and connection to people’s lives.

At every step, we’ve embraced the philosophy of bidding with generosity, earning trust, and connecting with communities on a human scale. Whether it’s in our daily interactions, the projects we champion, or the relationships we foster, this guiding principle has been at the heart of our journey.

Now, as we turn 18, we’re embarking on our most exciting challenge yet—launching the KereKere Village. This isn’t just a new initiative; it’s a bold step toward creating a shared future. With KereKere Village, we’re handing the reins to you, our community, so you can shape what comes next. It’s about building a vibrant collective where decisions are made together, ensuring that the people who are most invested in and impacted by KereKere have a real voice.

Whether it’s influencing the products we offer, co-creating events, or dreaming up innovative ways to support the common good, KereKere Village is our way of reimagining what community ownership can look like. We believe this shared governance model will allow us to grow in ways that reflect the values and aspirations of everyone involved.

While we’ve come far, there’s still so much more we can achieve together. The launch of KereKere Village is about putting the community at the heart of everything we do and ensuring that the journey ahead is one we all take together.

Thank you for being with us, not just today but throughout these 18 incredible years. Join us in the KereKere Village, and let’s tackle this new chapter side by side, where you can help call the shots.

Be part of the KereKere Village - https://lnkd.in/dg47UVgM