Celebrating a New Coffee House Tradition at ICS Addis

by Roslyn Dotterweich, ICS Addis Transitions Facilitator

In honor of Unique Awareness Month at the International Community School of Addis Ababa, our students enrolled in the Student Transition Education Program (STEP) were excited to continue a cherished "Coffee House" tradition—an idea originally conceived in 2016 by Diana El Saghir and the ES Learning Support department at the American International School of Jeddah.

The “Coffee House” transforms a classroom into a cozy coffee shop, inviting faculty to participate in this engaging activity as "customers," while students learn to greet them, take food orders, prepare coffee or tea, serve sweets, and engage in meaningful social interactions.

This valuable, hands-on experience enhances executive functioning skills as students practice turn-taking, eye contact, and social awareness. Planning and executing each step—from setting up the café to serving guests—teaches organization and time management.

This immersive environment also builds a sense of community, while equipping students in STEP with essential social skills such as communication, teamwork, and customer service—skills that are invaluable for their postsecondary life and vocational pursuits.

Over the past two weeks, two Coffee Houses were held—one in Secondary and one in Elementary School—serving well over 100 teachers at each house. This reinforces the ICS Addis commitment to enhancing student engagement and skill development in an inclusive and supportive environment.