People with Down Syndrome, 12 of them, will soon start working, and their culinary and waiter skills will be shown in the “Down Cafe”, whose doors should be open in March or April this year.
Zoran Jelić, the director of the Down Syndrome Center, confirmed this for “Nezavisne”, and says that they are still looking for premises of this cafe and are discussing the opening date.
“We are trying to finish so many different obligations in order to open the first ‘Down Cafe’, which would employ waiters and chefs with Down Syndrome. So far, we already have six people trained as waiters and chefs, i.e., a total 12 of them”, pointed out Jelić.
As he says, one of the biggest obstacles in their employment is their parents.
“They are afraid of what will happen to their children if they get a job, considering that, as they say, they will not have the social benefits they now receive.
However, those incomes are low in relation to how much a person with Down syndrome can earn”, said Jelić.
However, according to him, the parents of these 12 young people support them and there will be no obstacle for them to start working as waiters and chefs soon.
“We have already had several interviews, and the Republika Srpska Ministry of Health is working hard to overcome all legal obstacles when hiring people with Down syndrome. In all this, our ambassador, Dr. Vlado Đajić, provided us the greatest support”, Jelić emphasized.
He adds that they are going to Prague on January 23 to sign a cooperation agreement with the Czech Down Syndrome organization. On that occasion, he will present a social rehabilitation program, but also hold the premiere of “Neki novi Brodvej” in the Czech Republic.
“We will stay in Prague for seven days, during which people with Down syndrome will show the skills they acquired in the social rehabilitation program,” Jelić said.
As he says, from March and April, they will continue working in the communes in Banja Vrućica and Jahorina.
He points out that last year was very successful and that they implemented numerous projects and activities, but also marked three important anniversaries.
