Located in KIST Jeonbuk Branch... Operated by Hiring Baristas with Disabilities
[Wanju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Han-ho] The disabled-friendly cafe ‘Kiwi (KI-WE)’, a collaborative product between the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Jeonbuk Composite Materials Technology Research Institute (Branch Director Kim Jin-sang) and Wanju-gun Disabled Welfare Center (Director Jo Seong-moon), opened on the 8th.
According to Wanju-gun, last October, KIST Jeonbuk Composite Materials Technology Research Institute and Wanju-gun Disabled Welfare Center signed a mutual business agreement and have been carrying out procedures such as hiring disabled baristas, expanding cafe facilities, and holding a naming contest with the goal of mutual growth in the local community.
Kiwi (KI-WE) means KIST and the local community moving forward together (WE), and it began pilot operation on the 19th of last month.
In a 17-pyeong space within the research institute, two employees including disabled baristas sell coffee and snacks.
In particular, the operating profits of the Kiwi (KI-WE) cafe are used for wages of disabled workers, purchasing materials, and cafe operations.
Park Seong-il, the mayor of Wanju-gun, said, “It is very meaningful to be able to unite with KIST to provide quality jobs for disabled people,” and added, “I sincerely hope this will become a good precedent where local residents and public institutions in the region coexist.”
Kim Jin-sang, the branch director of Jeonbuk, stated, “I hope the Kiwi (KI-WE) cafe becomes a valuable resting place for employees and a strong stepping stone for social participation of disabled people. We will continue to work with the local community to create good virtuous cycle cases.”
Wanju=Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Han-ho stonepeak@asiae.co.kr
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