Employment and People with Disabilities

Terra Verde – Employment and People with Disabilities

Three years ago, the effort for a new Terra Verde venture began: the creation of job positions for People with Disabilities.

What was known was that People with Disabilities face immense barriers in finding employment. We wanted to give back to the local community a portion of the support and solidarity it has offered us all these years. Thus, the idea for a Terra Verde branch where People with Disabilities would be employed began to take shape.

The branch location was found at 46 Tsouderon Street, property of the Municipal School Board, and was granted to us by way of exception.

As the idea began to materialize, the challenges of the venture emerged and grew, even daunting us at times.

Once again, these difficulties were met with grassroots solidarity:

– Secondary education and special education teachers were by our side from the very beginning, guiding us and opening new horizons.

– Local artists donated their works and organized the “Art to the Rescue” exhibition, which served as the venue’s opening event.

– The beloved band “Social Waste” performed for this cause during the 2nd “Collective Paces” event, as did “Cheimerinoi Kolymvites,” “Hainides,” student music groups, and “The Halkuti Band.”

– Craftspeople and tradespeople worked pro bono to renovate and prepare the space.

– Dozens of people contributed their time, labor, and expertise to this effort:

– Workers from similar ventures shared their invaluable experience.

– Our many partners and suppliers responded to our internal lending appeal.

– The employees with disabilities themselves participated with great enthusiasm in all the preparatory actions to establish the branch.

Gradually, the world of people with disabilities began to become visible to us — a world that often remains unseen due to the lack of infrastructure and state support.

At first, this world started revealing itself through the experience and knowledge shared by their teachers, through the anxiety and daily struggle of their parents, and through the tears of a craftsman helping with the renovations while thinking of his own disabled brother… and eventually, through our creative collaboration with the employees with disabilities themselves.

Currently, following persistent and collective effort, the branch is operational with three employees with disabilities (via the DYPA program), a coordinator, and many supporters who contribute through solidarity work.

We hope for the community’s support of this venture, as we believe its sustainability will contribute to the practical recognition of the right of People with Disabilities to employment.

The visibility and social inclusion of People with Disabilities is a long-term, multi-dimensional struggle that is not limited solely to their right to work. However, supporting them in this specific area constitutes a critical step toward the goal of true inclusion.

It will be a significant support for us, as well as a source of encouragement and joy, to serve you.

46 Tsouderon St., daily from 10:00 to 21:00