If the road takes you to Tuzla after May 15th, we have a recommendation for you on where to go for coffee. And no, this is not an advertisement for a place, but a story about a turning point in the lives of people who are currently on the margins of society. Namely, from mid–May, the cafe ”Zmajevo Srce” (“Dragon’s Heart”) will open its doors in Tuzla, which will employ people with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities. For many of them, this will be their first job opportunity, Federalna writes.
Nineteen-year-old Ajdin Husicic from Tuzla will be one of the first employees of the “Zmajevo Srce” cafe. The smile on his face after finding out is hard to measure, and he revealed that he can’t even sleep because of the excitement. As he counts down the days until the opening, he describes how he feels:
“I am very excited and I am very glad that we will get the opportunity to participate in such projects and that they are being implemented.”
This is a turning point for people with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities, but also for their parents. Knowing that children will finally have the opportunity to be part of the community, and contribute, but also show what they can do is of indescribable importance.
“This means so much to us. A child with special needs will become independent, take care of his own life, have some income of his own, and simply be a mature man, ” noted Ajdin’s mother Edita Husicic.
The idea for opening such a cafe arose last year when the Association “Zmajevo Srce” together with the owners of cafes in the Tuzla area enabled this population to work temporarily. Even then, they knew they shouldn’t stop there.
“After a dozen cafes where we worked for two months, and a cafe in Lukavac, we realized that it was a revival for these children, but also for their parents,” said Omer Isovic, president of the Association “Zmajevo Srce“.
“In that period, we saw how much these children, ie people, have abilities, empathy for others, and how much they can work for themselves,” added Sabina Joguncic, expert associate in the “Zmajevo Srce” Association.
“The cafe will be equipped like any other, but it will be special in those smiles, hopes, expectations. We will really send a beautiful story from Tuzla, ” explained Isovic.
A story that will, we hope, be a motive for others to give this population a chance, because, in the end, we all deserve equal opportunities.
E.Dz.
