Empowering the LBGTQIA+ community via CSR, the Pride Café

Working in a café or diner can positively impact a person’s mental well-being in several ways. First, having a sense of purpose and responsibility through employment can contribute to a person’s self-esteem and self-worth. Additionally, a restaurant’s fast-paced and dynamic environment can also provide opportunities for personal growth and development, which can boost a person’s confidence and sense of accomplishment.

Furthermore, having a sense of community and support among coworkers and customers can also provide a sense of belonging and acceptance, which can be especially important for LGBTQ individuals who may have faced discrimination or marginalization in other areas of their lives.

The “Pride Café” is being established by Amadeus in collaboration with the NGO Solidarity Foundation, based in Bengaluru. This groundbreaking programme in India strives to provide the LGBTQIA+ population with employment opportunities. Amadeus is supporting two food trucks with 12 LGBTQIA+ employees, including seven who have already been hired, as part of the project.

Numerous organizations, including WeWork (location partner), Agape Hospitality Consultants (operations partner), the Aravani Art Project and Desavous (design partner), who joined the Solidarity Foundation to build Pride Café, and Amadeus (technology partner), support this innovative project.

The project’s goal is to encourage a richer interaction between the community and society. The average daily income in the community does not even match the minimum wage criteria, according to a livelihood needs assessment of the LGBTQIA+ groups (conducted by Solidarity Foundation, Sangama, and Best Practices Foundation). The leading cause of these meagre economic improvements is the community’s isolation from the labour force.

Amadeus strongly believes that the Pride Café can succeed commercially in the future, reducing social barriers and guaranteeing equitable work opportunities. Thus, Pride Café is a creative effort to develop a platform to increase awareness and give these people a chance to get over the significant daily challenges they face.

The Pride Café is an endeavour to promote an inclusive and stigma-free working environment, even though LGBTQIA+ community members encounter discrimination and human rights abuses at all phases of the educational and employment process.

Additionally, having a source of income and financial stability can also alleviate stress and anxiety caused by financial insecurity, which can have a positive impact on a person’s mental well-being. Overall, working in a café or diner can provide a sense of purpose, growth, community, and financial stability which can contribute to positive mental well-being.

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