Two Balgownie friends were inspired to make coffee cups that do more than just hold coffee.
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Sarika Gupta and Blaise Gassin are on a mission to raise awareness about domestic violence in the community - one takeaway cup at a time.
The pair have launched the Behind the Grind initiative in Wollongong.
Ms Sarika interviewed four women who have been a victim and overcome different types of domestic violence.
The women, who are anonymous, shared their stories, which Ms Sarika depicted pictorially. The designs have been printed onto coffee cups.
The duo have teamed up with cafes from Coledale to Wollongong who will stock 40,000 recycle small cups.
"So many cafes and coffee carts stock plain takeaway cups and they end up in the bin," Ms Gupta said.
"We thought it would be a good platform to spread a message about domestic violence and we hope to stimulate a conversation."
"We wanted to raise awareness when people get their morning coffee but we also didn't want it to ruin their day," Mr Gassin said.
"We hope the artwork catches people's attention, sparks curiosity and prompts them to visit our website where there is information about the women's stories, types of domestic violence and support services."
Starting in the city's north, three cafes will stock one of the designed cups for one week from March 6. Then another three will stock a different designed cup the next week. And so on, ending in Wollongong on the fourth week.
Mr Gassin said he hoped the cups helped to break down the stigma around domestic violence through telling women's stories and raise awareness about the different types of domestic violence.
"I work in the women's health industry and have missed some of the signs of domestic violence in the past because there hasn't been physical evidence," Ms Gupta said.
"People need to understand abuse can be indirect and it is insidious."
Mr Gassin said he was made aware of how common domestic violence was in the community through his father's work as a police officer.
Ms Gupta drew the artworks for the cups and was helped by artist Paul Dorin. Mr Gassin developed the website and worked out logistics.
The women were contacted through Supported Accommodation and Homelessness Services Shoalhaven Illawarra.
"It was confronting to interview the women but they were so strong and supported," Ms Gupta said.
Cafes are encouraged to donate a percentage of the sales per cup to the SAHSSI but there is no obligation.
The cafes where you will the cups are Earth Walker and Co, Moore Street General, Two Sisters, Flat White, Broken Drum, Reays Place, Bill and James, Yarnsie’s, The Yard, Opus, Son of a Gun, Cafe Meni, Lili J and Diggies
Details: www.behindthegrind.net