Habibi Center

Every Sip Supports a Cause and Every Cup Creates a Community

A simple cup of coffee has often been the spark for meaningful conversations, the beginning of lifelong connections, the essence of the most sacred morning routines, and the fuel for dreams. Most importantly, it has served as an avenue to create community.

From the inception of BODEGA, our team set out to create a business that stood for more than the pursuit of wealth. We wanted to build something that truly mattered: a business with purpose. Every decision we have made, from the beans we source to the connections we foster, has been guided by a simple belief: that business should always strive for excellence in everything it does and serve as a tool for building communities. We believe that we are all citizens of this earth, and supporting meaningful causes is a responsibility we all share in order to leave the world better than we found it.

This belief leads us to the first cause we are honored to support; one that is especially close to our hearts: The Habibi Center. The Habibi Center first opened its doors to refugee youth on August 8, 2016, in the town of Eleousa, in northern Greece. What began as a humble grassroots project has since grown into a registered non-profit organization dedicated to providing non-formal education to refugee adolescents living in Athens. In a world where so many young people are displaced, overlooked, or denied opportunities, the Habibi Center offers something priceless: a safe space to learn, to express themselves, and to gain the tools they need for a brighter, more hopeful future.

To date, the Habibi Center has provided educational support to over 300 teenagers and young adults. It offers not just lessons, but dignity, community, and the belief that their dreams still matter. The center is run by three long-term volunteers who pour their hearts into creating a nurturing environment where refugee youth can rebuild their futures through education, creativity, and emotional support. By choosing to support this cause through our business, we are inviting our community to be part of something bigger; something that reaches beyond borders and reminds us all of our shared humanity.

To learn more about this cause, we invite you to watch a short video featuring Stephanie Martinez, the director of the Habibi Center. We had the privilege of sitting down with her to hear her story, learn more about the incredible work she does, and even share in her own journey with coffee.