In the words of the founding couple, David and Karolien van Berkel: “We believe that coffee is more than a drink. It’s a catalyst for conversation and community. WE LOVE THAT”.

Grounded at Echo serves as the umbrella brand for ‘Grounded Coffee’ and ‘Grounded Work’ and arose out of Echo Youth Development’s need for a relevant space that could serve as an interface between the NGO and the larger Pretoria community. The coffee shop was first in line, both because coffee tends to be a good conversation starter and because there was a lack of establishments offering good coffee and deli meals in the Moot area. Grounded Coffee soon became a popular meeting place for thinkers, creatives and freelancers- which in turn revealed the need for Grounded at Echo’s very own coworking space. Grounded Work offers informal work space to rent by the hour, day or on a membership basis. It is also a platform for events ranging from talks to workshops and language lessons.

Echo Youth Development is not only a formal shareholder in Grounded, but also stands at the heart of its drive to be an example of a sustainable, social enterprise that works for more than just financial profit. Being part of an integrated community steers Grounded’s commitment to walk the path of sustainable personal and professional development with all its staff members; many of whom are also residents in Echo’s communes and often come from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.  Initiatives developed at Grounded bring people from all walks of life together to collaborate, dream and create in an environment that is inclusive and encourages diversity. ‘The Wall’ is a rotation based art exhibition space inside the coffee shop that encourages an appreciation and more regular interaction with local art and artists. Free conversational Zulu lessons on Saturdays bring young and old together in an attempt to cross language boundaries and have some fun while doing so. The Park Exchange offers a platform for open dialogue about things that matter to South Africans across the spectrum.

Karolien van Berkel, 27 is the co-founder (with husband, David) and creative driving force behind Grounded at Echo. Karolien says that for her, one of the biggest challenges in being a young female business owner has been in learning how to manage self-doubt; a characteristic which can be highly negative but can also refine and aid the creative process. 'Learning to find the balance between responding to customers' feedback and trusting my own instincts has become one of the biggest learning curves on this journey.' According to Karolien, leading the way with confidence is not about knowing all the answers, but rather about having a sincere commitment to bring about positive growth; both in others and more importantly within yourself.

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