Lisbon hosts the first café that trains and employs people with trisomy 21 and autism
The first solidarity and inclusive café-restaurant is going to open in Lisbon, at Calçada da Estrela, right in front of the Assembly of the Republic.
Of French origin, the 1st Café Joyeux will provide training and employment for people with intellectual and developmental difficulties, such as trisomy 21 or autism.
It is an innovative concept, which emerged in 2017 at the hands of Yann and Lydwine Bucaille.
The founders of this chain of restoration say that the project’s mission “is to make the difference visible, promote social integration and provide employment for people who stand out from the labor market.”
Following an agreement signed between the Émeraude Solidaire Foundation and the VilacomVida Association, the first franchising of the Café Joyeux brand outside France is born.
The VilacomVida Association aims to “create five to seven JOYEUX cafe-restaurants in Portuguese territory by 2026, thus enabling the employment of close to a hundred Joyeux employees”, informs the institution.
Joyeux allows each employee to “gain confidence, experience and feel an integral part of the company, since all processes and recipes are designed from scratch to promote their autonomy”.
The opening of the café in Portugal takes place on the eve of the closing of the 25th edition of the European Week for the Employability of People with Disabilities.