- Title: Mingle with waiters with Down Syndrome in Syria's capital
- Date: 25th August 2021
- Summary: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (AUGUST 24, 2021) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) VARIOUS OF MAN WITH DOWN SYNDROME, ABDEL RAHMAN BURAYM, SERVING CUSTOMERS SEATED IN 'SUCETTE CAFE' ABDEL RAHMAN PLACING GLASSES ON TRAY ABDEL RAHMAN WALKING THROUGH CAFE OUTDOOR AREA ABDEL RAHMAN SERVING CUSTOMERS WITH THE HELP OF A CO-WORKER DAMASCUS, SYRIA (AUGUST 24, 2021) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) BURAYM'S FATHER, GHASSAN BURAYM, SAYING: "The experience was wonderful. When he came to the cafe, he met many people and they saw how active he is and the smiles he gives. He always smiles, he is always nice and kind to people. I am not saying that only because he is my son, that is his nature. He integrated well at his job, it is all going and comfortable, and he loves the job." OVERVIEW OF 'SUCETTE CAFE' OUTDOOR SEATING AREA WITH CUSTOMERS SEATED WAITERS STANDING AT COUNTER WAITER PUTTING ICE CUBES IN A GLASS VARIOUS OF WAITERS, WITH AND WITHOUT DOWN SYNDROME, WORKING TOGETHER AROUND COUNTER (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF THE 'JUZUR ASSOCIATION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES', KHULUD RAJAB, SAYING: "The idea of mutual integration is about integrating people with Down Syndrome with our customers, even integrating all the youth working here with the youth with Down Syndrome. This was the original idea, integration, in addition to psychologically empowering young people with Down Syndrome, and their parents too, because this has a positive effect on them." DAMASCUS, SYRIA (AUGUST 24, 2021) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) VARIOUS OF ABDEL RAHMAN TALKING TO CUSTOMERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) 'SUCETTE CAFE' WAITER WITH DOWN SYNDROME, ABDEL RAHMAN BURAYM, SAYING: "Welcome to Sucette." JOURNALIST ASKING: “What would like to drink?†ABDEL RAHMAN: “Strawberry, mango juice, and everything." WAITRESS TALKING TO CUSTOMERS WAITERS POSING NEXT TO EACH OTHER CUSTOMERS SEATED
- Embargoed: 8th September 2021 15:59
- Keywords: Down syndrome cafe disabilites waiters
- Location: DAMASCUS, SYRIA
- City: DAMASCUS, SYRIA
- Country: Syria
- Topics: Middle East,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001ERS3QDX
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Ordering a juice at the newly-opened Sucette cafe in Damascus offers its customers the opportunity to meet and chat with waiters with Down Syndrome, like Abdel Rahman Buraym, who since taking the job met a lot of new people, his father, Ghassan Buraym, said.
Sucette cafe opened its doors in the Syrian capital's Tishreen park on Thursday (August 19) and aims to promote the integration of people with Down Syndrome into society.
The team of waiters at Sucette cafe is composed of people with and without Down Syndrome that help and support each other throughout their shifts.
According to the head of the Juzur Association for People with Disabilities, Khulud Rajab, the initiative is the first in Syria to widely employ people with Down Syndrome as waiters.
The original idea for the coffee shop was born about three years ago when people with Down Syndrome were offered to volunteer as waiters during a local festival in Damascus.
After receiving positive feedback, the Juzur Association for People with Disabilities started to train youth with Down Syndrome to prepare and serve beverages.
So far, Sucette cafe offers only shisha and beverages, as its staff has not been trained in cooking food yet. Meanwhile, the association hopes to be able to open additional branches in different Syrian cities in the future.
(Production: Firas Makdesi, Kinda Makieh) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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