A Vignola, in the province of Modena, the #Socialavoratori project launched last June involves 16 people with disabilities, aged 20 to 55, working as dining room staff and kitchen assistants. The initiative has backing from the regional government and the Csv, and brings together a network of local nonprofit organizations.
Walk through the door and everyone greets you with a genuine smile—the smile of people proud of what they're doing and aware they're doing it well. We're at The Square – American grill & lounge bar in Vignola, Modena, where since last June the "#Socialavoratori – From Inclusion to Autonomy" project has been running. Sixteen people with disabilities work here as servers and kitchen helpers, learning the restaurant trade from the ground up.
For adults with disabilities, daily life brings real challenges: managing a household, building social relationships, and finding work. Employment is the foundation for building a genuinely independent life. Yet one of the biggest obstacles remains finding a job that pays enough to live on.
Sandro Vacondio and Mauro Santucci of Magicamente liberi, the project's lead organization, explain the vision: to give these individuals real work experience in the restaurant industry. "What convinced so many organizations to support this," they say, "was the realization that lasting change only happens when nonprofits partner with the private sector. Thanks to Andrea Calari, owner of The Square, we've turned what was just an idea a few months ago into something real."
#Socialavoratori received funding from the Emilia-Romagna regional government and project support from Csv Modena, which coordinated multiple local nonprofits. Cescot Modena handled job training, while the Gulliver cooperative identified participants through referrals from local associations, mental health centers, and social services in the Terre di Castelli union. Gulliver also provides ongoing support through its educators throughout the program.
"We said yes immediately," says Jessica Calari of The Square. "It's been a very positive experience for us. The young people and our staff have built real rapport, and our customers appreciate what we're doing. These workers are teaching us as much as we're teaching them."
On this shift, Brunella, Andrea, and Diego move between dining room and kitchen, focused on delivering perfect service with the backing of a thoughtful, welcoming staff. "It's a meaningful project," Brunella says while preparing two espressos. "I'm learning so much—especially how to be around people, how to connect better with them."
Sandro of Magicamente liberi adds: "Before coming to The Square, our participants gained experience through catering events—weddings, birthday parties, nonprofit functions around town. Recently we also worked with Slow Food for Vignola's 'moretta cherry' festival. For several summers now, we've run a kiosk in the Bocce park at Marano sul Panaro—another project that brought together people with disabilities in socially useful work and job training. With a government that understands this mission and steady support from Csv, we're building something real."
Source: Vita