The differently-abled are part of the fabric of our communities and in celebration of the hearing impaired among us and in honour of Nelson Mandela Day, Ciro Coffee Academy and Hearing Works recently held a Deaf Awareness Celebration to continue the progress of empowering deaf baristas to be part of the coffee community.
Lizaan Alberts, Ciro's National Training and Events Manager told us about the event, "In the true spirit of the Nelson Mandela ethos – various partners and contributors to the employment, empowerment and upliftment of the deaf community gathered on Tuesday 9th July in Bryanston. All with one goal – to employ deaf baristas in the industry in order to change their lives for the better. We were surrounded by heart warming stories of partners and baristas sharing their experience working in a “hearing” world – the challenges and successes that comes with it.
The morning was built on three pillars that earmarks this amazing journey: Courage, Vulnerability and Transformation.
We ended the session with a buildup of the Deaf Barista Competition and what to look forward to in 2019. Each competing barista introduced him / herself and why they love working with coffee so much.
We are counting down the days to the competition and inviting anyone that is keen, willing and has the heart for change to be part of it."
Lizaan has been an integral part of this coffee programme and has become incredibly dedicated to making sure these candidates succeed in the coffee industry.
Next weekend, 27th July 2019, is the 3rd Deaf Barista Championship at 10am at the Coffee & Chocolate Expo. You can read more about that and meet the baristas competing here. It is always such an incredible event to be a part of, we can't wait!!!
