Kelowna Cafe Teaching Job Skills for People with Disabilities

(Photo Credit: One Cup at a Time)

The federal government has just made a major funding announcement to help people with disabilities gain job skills.

The One Cup at a Time project through the John Howard Society will be running once again thanks to $83,000 from the federal Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities. The project, based in downtown Kelowna, helps adults with disabilities by training them for employment in the food service industry.

Ten people will be helped to overcome barriers to employment and develop the necessary skills to either go into the labour market or go back to school. For the program, participants get six months of employment readiness and skill development, relevant certification, and hands-on paid cafe and catering employment. They learn skills such as customer service, point of sale, catering, and barista training.

Storefront of One Cup at a Time on St. Paul Street. (Photo Credit: One Cup at a Time)

The participants are a mixture of men and women who have disabilities that prevent them from actively participating in the workplace. The program started around the second week of February, and they work in the storefront of the One Cup at a Time cafe as well as in the back doing catering.

“Canadians with disabilities deserve every opportunity to participate in the job market, and that’s why partnerships with organizations like the John Howard Society are so important,” said MP Ron Cannan. “Through this project, people with disabilities in Kelowna-Lake Country will gain the skills and experience they need to succeed in the workforce.”

Inside the cafe. (Photo Credit: One Cup at a Time)

“At the John Howard Society we are thankful for this funding,” said Gaelene Askeland, Executive Director of the John Howard Society of Central and South Okanagan. “After 6 months there will be 10 people who will have skills and confidence to go back to school or to be employed in the hospitality industry."

You can check out their cafe, One Cup at a Time, at 1440 St. Paul Street.