Their smile is contagious. Giovanni, Susanna, David, Francesco, Federica and many others. The team is motivated and ready for the challenge. A challenge that rhymes with “work” and “social inclusion”. For Federica and another 13 friends, Thursday, 10 October was the moment of the diploma, after six months of “I Also Count!” bus boy training, initiative created by the Community of Sant’Egidio with the support of Neopharmed Gentili and the partnership of Cattolica Assicurazioni.

A project dedicated to persons with disabilities who, in the last six months, were involved in theoretical lessons of hygiene, gastronomy and serving techniques and practical sessions among the tables of La Trattoria De Gli Amici, historic Roman operation where workers with and without disabilities work. “It is a special moment, but it is only the beginning of an adventure for these young people “commented Stefano Carmenati, General Manager of the Community.

Giving the youth their awards, in the Benedetto XIII Hall of the former hospital of Via San Gallicano, was also the Chief Executive Officer of Cattolica Assicurazioni, Alberto Minali. “We consider disability as a resource for the world of work - stated Minali - These young people will bring their freshness and their lightness into the room: the humanity that they manage to filter through in every instant will be the distinctive trademark of their life. We believe strongly in the mission to contribute to making the qualities of people emerge and putting them to work in the labour market, for this reason being able to give these young people a chance is a point of great pride for us”.

A project which, in recent years has trained more than 150 individuals, as Professor Paola Scarcella, manager of the course, reminded us: “The greatest satisfaction of this work is to see our individuals with disabilities working well and receiving recognition for their work by all the customers; persons who come and go content precisely because they have been served well by pleasant waiters and waitresses”.