Latakia-SANA
In an initiative that is the first of its kind in Lattakia, Lina Daher launched her project (Atique Paper), the first literary and cultural café that occupies people with special needs 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 on the threshold of the café, which is characterized by its simple designs, calm colors and warm ambiance, made more beautiful by the smile on the face 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 Down syndrome, expressed in her interview with SANA reporter 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. Which was like an impossible dream.
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 Down syndrome, during which she was able to identify the inherent beauty within them and gained the necessary experience to deal with them and help them. To discover their capabilities and use them properly.
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, in addition to a free lending library and a permanent art exhibition in which children and young adults from the Arsam Association are currently participating. My artistic dream in Basnada, which is concerned with plastic art and children's art.
Daher considered that the café represents a beautiful and safe space after years of the war on Syria that includes art, music and reading, noting that her project would not have seen the light in light of the difficulties and challenges imposed by the war had it not been for the support she received from the United Nations Development Program by choosing her project from among 27 projects. In challenging the best idea.
Rasha Raslan
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