Makhachkala: people with disabilities open their café

A social café "Time for Change", which employs people with disabilities, has opened in Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan.

The opening of the café, unique for the republic, took place on April 1 at the initiative of Aishat Gamzaeva, the head of the Dagestani NGO "Life Without Tears". Since 2001, the NGO helps children with disabilities.

"At our educational centre, children receive various specialties; and our pupils will also work in this café; mostly persons with mental and physical disabilities. For them, this is a chance to self-realize; and for almost everyone this is the only opportunity to find a job," Ms Gamzaeva has stated, adding that for people with disabilities such job means a chance to communicate with people and feel themselves full-fledged members of the society.

The café is in the ground floor; it is equipped with a ramp; and everything inside is adapted for people with disabilities.

The designer, Asiyat Abdusalamova, has noted that because of their inability to move around the city independently, people with disabilities feel even more restricted.

The café was organized with the support of a president's grant, the remaining amount was raised by donations.