At ONA Coffee, the pursuit of excellence extends far beyond the cup. For founder Sasa Sestic, coffee has always been about community, innovation, and making a difference.
That vision took on new meaning after a life-changing trip to Ethiopia in 2012, where he witnessed families walking for hours just to access clean water. The experience sparked a personal goal: to support the construction of over 100 waterpoints in coffee-growing regions, ensuring safe water for the communities that grow the coffee we all enjoy.
His dream began taking shape through ONA’s partnership with Water for Good, whom he found to be committed to long-term, sustainable solutions. Unlike temporary fixes, Water for Good invests deeply in communities—building, maintaining, and repairing water points while training local teams to ensure clean water flows for generations, as well as educating on healthy sanitation and hygiene practices.
In 2025, Sasa visited Water for Good’s Addis Ababa headquarters and project areas, saw firsthand the impact of this approach. He described it as an “incredibly joyful day,” moved by both the speed and sustainability of the work. He learned, for example, that Water for Good has been working in Nansebo for 15 years, and thanks to their dedication, 40% of the population now has access to clean water, compared to none when they started. This progress instilled hope and belief that with support from ONA and their wider network, the gap in water access can be further closed.
ONA has already funded one waterpoint in Nansebo, with another underway, and through its sister company Project Origin, plans to support several more this year. The goal: over 10 waterpoints in 2026, each transforming daily life for 300–500 people.
At Water for Good, we are proud to partner with ONA Coffee and celebrate the impact their vision is making possible. Their commitment shows what’s possible when businesses align purpose with action. And we know they won’t be the last—this model of collaboration is one we hope inspires other companies to join us in addressing the global water crisis.
Together, we can create lasting change, one waterpoint at a time.
