Społeczna Kaffka
Poland
Na Kozłówce 25, Kraków, Poland
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Polish article
Sportina Kask is a cafe in Krakow staffed by people with Down syndrome Translator's note: Krakow is a city in southern Poland near the border with the Czech Republic February 2023 article There has never been a cafe like this in Krakow. A unique and professional place has been created not only to drink coffee or tea but also to provide support to the staff of Sportina Cask, people with Down syndrome. The initiative is initiated by Społeczna 21, a social enterprise founded as part of the Krakow association of parents and friends of Down syndrome “Tęcza”. “From the beginning, we have focused on creating a place for adults with Down syndrome to work, because we believe it is important for them to have a job, just like each of us. Then you want to earn your own money, be responsible, and do something. We already run a food truck in Zaleu Nowovki that serves Belgian fries, and five people with Down syndrome work there. Now, with the opening of the Sportina Cask Café, we have secured employment for five more people.'' (Agata Krzyzek Gola, Member of the Management Board) Julia, Monika, Simon, Jan and Grzegorz. These five young people with intellectual disabilities work as staff at the Sportina Cask Café. "I'm very happy to be able to work here and earn my own money. In this shop, you can drink tea, various drinks, and of course coffee. You can also eat delicious food here." (Sportina Cask)・Monika Baster, a member of the cafe crew) ``We started in January, but we officially opened today, February 7th.Customers can enjoy the 25-seat tea22200000- 0000-0000-0000-000000000222_You have at your disposal a large, modern room with a play desk. There is also a special corner with toys for children and a relaxation zone. We are trying to accommodate people with disabilities: we have a wheelchair ramp in front of the building and an induction loop inside the building for the hearing impaired. We have prepared young employees for employment, both in terms of the skills normally required in a cafe, such as operations, coffee preparation, customer service, etc., as well as the things associated with being an employee, i.e. holidays. We also ensure rights and obligations relating to and sick leave issues, medical care and employment contracts.Sportina Cask was created with the aim of social and professional activation of people with intellectual disabilities.Café When you come to our store, you can not only have a coffee and eat something sweet, but also participate in workshops and special events. "We wanted it to be a place that was open to everyone. , we hope that various events will be held here where the residents of Krakow can meet people with disabilities and break their stereotypes, because such encounters are the best way to break down various barriers ”, emphasizes Agata Krzyzek Gora. The staff at Sportina Cask are supervised by a job coach. Job coaches help employees with their work and support cafe operations. We are a very well-coordinated team that complements each other. Our employees are very resourceful, so the job coach role is just a background. We try to help when they have a problem or don't know what to do. None of us are perfect and we all make mistakes from time to time. It's natural, so we try to eliminate it. This work gives them a great sense of fulfillment. Because they realize that they can earn money, go on vacation, and pay their own bills just like any other citizen in our society. However, the most important aspect is the issue of socialization. They have the opportunity to get in front of people and tell their friends about their experiences. They realize that everything they do has a purpose. ” (Job Trainer Karolina Adamczyk) Sportina Cask Café is open on weekdays and the second Saturday of every month from 10:00 to 17:00. This project is being carried out with subsidies from the city as part of the public project ``Vocational Revitalization for Persons with Disabilities.''
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