This space aims to combat the high unemployment among people with disabilities in Portugal, acting as a starting point for professional integration and promoting the autonomy and appreciation of these young people’s skills.
In Vizela, the Teatro dos Sonhos Pastry Shopyes an association that supports children and young people with disabilities, has become a space for inclusion and achievements.
Since the beginning of this month, Ana Rita Miranda, 28 years old, has been working at the inclusive pastry shop, where, in addition to realizing a personal dream, Find a reason to smile every day.
Ana Rita, who has Down syndrome, is one of 10 people with disabilities who are part of the pastry shop team, a project that aims not only at insertion into the job market, but also at valuing the autonomy and skills of young people with special needs.
Alongside Ana Rita, João Carlos Salgado, a 32-year-old young man who also has Down syndrome, works. He has been with AIREV for 12 years, where he developed his taste for cooking.
In the pastry shop, João and Ana Rita, together with other colleagues, contribute to the production and sale of a variety of products, receiving dozens of customers daily.
“Here we give stage to the dream of having a job”
In Portugal, people with disabilities continue to face significant challenges when it comes to integration into the job market.
The unemployment rate among this group is considerably higher, and many of these people are in long-term unemployment.
Sara Costa, technical director of AIREV, explains that the main objective of the association is that pastry is a starting point for professional integration.
“It’s called Theater of Dreams because here we give stage to the dreams they had for a long time, of having a job. Here, we work on equality and inclusion, showing that diversity is where true wealth lies”, explained the director.
“It’s a stage, a privileged place, where these young people work on skills that still need to be improved, but also for the community to stop and think: Maybe I can give these people opportunities“, added therapist Rita Rocha.
