Disabled people cook and serve food in Rabat restaurant

Описание: (27 Oct 2017) LEADIN:
An association in Rabat is giving disabled people the chance to learn to cook.
And the public can support the idea by visiting their restaurant.
STORYLINE:
The chefs are all busy in this kitchen.
Whether it's rice, salad, or chocolate crepes, everyone has something to do.
But this isn't your average kitchen.
All these people have a disability or learning difficulties.
They are learning to cook simple meals that are served to the public.
"I'm preparing salads, rice, desserts, some pastries, all kind of things," explains Saad Sahel, a 23-year-old man who has been learning cookery skills in this kitchen since 2014.
"I hope that one day I'll be able to do something (with my life)."
The project is run by the the Hadaf Association, a network for mentally disabled people and their families.
Nora Hachami joined the association seven years ago.
She has been creating the cookery workshops and adapting them to the different participants and their abilities.
"At first it's not an easy thing to teach them cooking, but day after day, thanks to their desire for learning and their passion, they really are developing abilities in the cooking field."
Someone who is aware of this potential is the founder of the association, Amina Msefer.
Her own daughter is mentally disabled and blind.
Msefer saw that there was a need for support when she struggled to find a school to take her daughter.
So she and other families in a similar situation established the Hadaf Association in 1997
Now, the association helps 85 people and one day she hopes that many of them will enter the labour market for real.
The association centre is open all day and they can learn different things such as sewing and gardening, as well as cookery.
Msefer says there has been a distinct lack of help from the government in the past but she thinks the situation is beginning to improve.
"We are starting to give importance to education, to inclusive education for these children."
Article 34 of the 2011 Moroccan Constitution obligates public authorities to put policies in place to help disabled people.
And the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, created in 2006, was signed by Morocco in 2007.
But still, things are missing.
"As long as there is no decree, it's not enough," says Msefer.
Last year, for example, the association spent 1.5 million dirhams (177,000 US dollars) - with only 500,000 dirhams coming from the state.
This money was used for expenses like the association building, salaries, and food.
The restaurant is another income source and opened earlier this year.
Anyone can come and enjoy the freshly-prepared food - cooked and served by mentally-disabled people.
One of those enjoying it today is another daughter of Msefer, 33-year-old Zoubida.
She thinks the restaurant is a special place for both the customers and those working here.
"This restaurant is a way to be in contact with these people and to encourage them in their choice and in their work."

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