John David from Basra, Iraq
The image of a phoenix that has risen from the ashes best illustrates John David’s life.
John arrived in New Zealand as an Iraqi refugee in 1994. Having overcome many challenges both in his own country and in adapting to a new country, it seemed like the last straw when the coffee business he’d worked so hard to establish literally went up in smoke. "The fire started just before New Year’s Eve. It was like my whole life was over."
- John David making a coffee in his café
Characteristically, John picked himself up and rebuilt the business, which is now a thriving hub of aroma thanks to the hundred percent Cuban roasted coffee beans. Though the publicity surrounding the fire was good for business, much of John’s success can be attributed to his tenacity and ingenuity. "I didn’t want to move anywhere else. I had a bit of money saved and worked to get by until the new fit out."
He says life will always try to set you back but you can’t give up. "I always turn my negatives into positives."
At 19 John came to New Zealand with his father and brothers, and the memories of the bombing of his family home in Basra. All of the family’s money had been spent on John’s mother’s cancer treatment, which was unsuccessful.
Communication was John’s biggest challenge in his new country. "I needed to help support the family so I picked up the language by getting jobs washing dishes. I had a lot of people make fun of my accent but I’ve always taken it as a motivation to learn." It was his drive to get ahead in life that saw John voluntarily putting in extra hours to pick up bakery skills at a supermarket where he washed dishes.
John broadened his hospitality experience by waiting at, and managing restaurants, once his English skills improved. He also ran a kebab business in partnership with his brother-in-law, which helped him to realise his long-held vision of running a coffee shop with a Cuban influence. "I had become passionate about coffee and the politics and people of Cuba, who are passionate about life and know the secret of living in harmony." It was John’s desire to recreate this vibe in his shop.
With the flames behind him, John has plans to expand his business by importing rum and supplying Wellington restaurants and cafés with Cuban coffee beans. But the long-term goal, he says, is to further his studies. John believes education is a valuable thing, and feels that part of him is missing. "It’s not just about making a living; it’s about doing something with life."
John plans to follow his dream of studying and eventually getting into politics. But being the grounded person he is, he says, "It’s about planting a seed for your future every day".
