The first cultural café for people with special needs in Latakia

In an initiative that is the first of its kind in Lattakia, Lina Daher launched her project “Old Paper”, the first literary and cultural café that recruits people with special needs in order to integrate them into society.

 A lot of love and positive energy are felt by the visitors of this place as soon as they step into the café, which is characterized by its simple designs, calm colors and warm ambiance, made more beautiful by the smile on the faces of the two young women, Marcel Scaife (35 years) and Alia Primo (22 years), when receiving guests and receiving their requests.

Scaife, who suffers from Downs syndrome, expressed her satisfaction with this new experience for her, apart from the fact that it was the only opportunity she had to work and interact with people and communicate with them directly.

In turn, Daher, the owner of the project, expressed her happiness with the implementation of her idea to integrate people with special needs into the labor market, which came as a result of long years of volunteer work with NGOs that deal with these people, especially autism and Downs syndrome.

Daher added that her project carries a humanitarian message that people with special needs are different, but they are capable, creative and not powerless. They need attention and training to be active members of their community, as is the case with Marcel and Alia, who underwent training and rehabilitation sessions before starting work.

Daher pointed to the need to change the society’s negative view of these people who can manage their affairs and need only suitable opportunities that enable them to get a job that will bring them an income, no matter how simple, but it gives them hope.

The café includes a corner to display handicrafts and household supplies (soap, candles, embroideries and pickles) made by the hands of young men and women with special needs who receive training at the Specialized Consulting Center (Scc) to market these products.

Daher considered that the café represents a beautiful and safe space after years of the war on Syria that includes art, music and reading.

Daher said that her project would not have been done with the difficulties and challenges imposed by the war had it not been  for the support from the United Nations Development Program by choosing her project from among 27 projects.

O. al-Mohammad