Coffee Down

One of the first things that I saw when I was going to the IYACA’s office for the very first time was Coffee Down. It attracted my attention because most of the workers that I saw there had Down syndrome. Since the beginning I felt the need to get to know more about the coffee and its workers, therefore IYACA’s volunteer Ayhan and I went there to interview them.

Coffee Down was opened in 2001 by the ministry, which wrote a project, dedicated to children who are living in an orphanage. The aim of the project was to integrate youth with disabilities into the local community. There are only two places in Turkey (both of them are located in Ankara) where youngsters with disabilities are able to work in food service. There are 25 young workers in Coffee Down with various mental disabilities. Six guardians take care of them at all time. They admitted that it is a pleasure to work with them since they are very happy, friendly and loving human beings.
While we were talking with some of the employees, we got to know that some of them worked there more than 10 years already. Some of them are studying at the moment, and their dreams are big. One girl dreams of becoming an officer; many others wish to work in a different place in the future if they ever have a chance. The workers with disabilities are preparing tea and coffee and serving customers, however, they don’t bake anything. At first, when they start to work in the coffee, they might be angry at the customers, who are not satisfied with their work. They take criticism very sensitively. It hurts them deeply and in very rare cases they might even throw glasses on the floor to express their anger. Sometimes customers think that the workers don’t have any disabilities; therefore, they can be mad about their unusual behavior. For instance, when a worker places the glass on the table tough, customers are surprised and complain about it. Once they realize that the workers are people with disabilities, they regret that they got mad in the first place. The guardians are watching workers very carefully and don’t allow big conflicts to occur.
Employees with various disabilities claimed that their favourite part of their job is to serve customers and to receive a positive feedback. They enjoy their teachers company and the special coffee that is prepared here. They claimed that some of the best products that they sell in the coffee include tea and baklava (which we were served and enjoyed very much).
Coffee Down welcomes many visitors every day, including foreigners who are not rare guests here. Workers love when their customers tell them that their prepared tea or coffee is great. Some people come to the coffee so often that they recognize the workers already. It is very common to give gifts to the employees. In the past, there were a few accidents when some customers started insulting employees. However, there are much more polite clients than rude ones. Many workers admitted that during their childhood, it was very difficult to be a person with disabilities in Turkey; kids would usually beat them. Even though they experienced hardships in their life, the present is brighter than the past.