Il birrificio artigianale calabrese che scommette sui ragazzi Down: "Quando vengo qui sono felice"

"When I come to work here, I feel happy; the brewery is in my heart." Valentina's desire to learn and her desire to work is so strong that she wishes the summer holidays and closure would never come. In Catanzaro, Calabria, a small artisanal workshop witnesses a small miracle every day. Valentina, Ester, Federica, Alessandra, Manilo, and Salvatore are young people with Down syndrome or cognitive disabilities, but that doesn't stop them from being part of a production chain that makes five types of beer. The project is called "Solid Ale Beer," where "Ale" identifies top-fermented beers and "Solid" captures the spirit of this artisanal business that was born almost by chance. "I attended an AIPD (Italian Association of People with Down Syndrome) evening, and that evening, images of work experiences of young people with Down syndrome were projected," explains Luciano Ricci, president of Hesperia and the mind behind the project. "Those images opened my mind, because until then I too had reservations, mental limitations, believing that this syndrome could limit young people's work," he continues. Luciano was given a book on how to make beer at home, and from there the idea came to him to create, together with his business partner Massimo Pisanelli, an artisanal workshop staffed by people with Down syndrome. "I immediately saw that, if given the opportunity to work in a calm environment, the young people work independently and with the same skills as so-called able-bodied people," Ricci comments. Flanked by Marina Dominijanni, a guarantee partner representing the Aipd, the two entrepreneurs and the six young people begin an easy journey. "I like labeling, capping bottles, sterilizing, and washing," Valentina and Alessandra say in unison. "Their ages range from 25 to 35, and they are all workers on fixed-term contracts, but we hope to convert them to permanent contracts over time. With this initiative, we've charted a course that certainly won't stop at the Brewery," says Massimo Pisanelli. The goal now is to expand beyond the provincial borders, but in the meantime, the entrepreneurs comment: "We couldn't have made a better choice; we've learned a lot from these special guys." If you liked the video, click here: http://fanpa.ge/ISCRIVITI-A-FANPAGE-IT How to activate notifications PROPERLY, from any smartphone: http://fanpa.ge/PROBLEMA-RISOLTO Comment with us on the latest news, join the Community: http://fanpa.ge/FANPAGE-COMMUNITY https://youmedia.fanpage.it/video/aa/...