“Tele2” changed ordinary Christmas gifts to meaningful ones again: handmade products were prepared by people with disabilities

During the festive period, the mobile communication operator Tele2 continues its four-year partnership with the social business restaurant Pirmas blynas. This year, people with disabilities who work there contributed to the operator’s gift to partners and made handmade delicacies. According to the restaurant’s founder, Tim van Wijk, by purchasing goods or services from a social business, everyone can contribute to the preservation and creation of meaningful jobs.

Helps accelerate social business

According to Agnietė Žilinskaitė, Tele2 brand manager, corporate gifts can be meaningful – the operator continues the partnership started in 2019 with the social restaurant “Pirmas blynas”, which employs people with various disabilities. From 2018 The restaurant operating in Vilnius, which offers a variety of pancakes and other dishes, was founded by T. van Wijk, a Dutchman living in Lithuania.

“If we want changes in society, businesses must seek long-term partnerships. The “Primo blyno” team takes a very responsible approach to their customers, they bravely accept the challenge of preparing even large orders. With the restaurant “Pirmas blynas” we made Christmas gifts for the first time 4 years ago. This team has taken on catering at our events more than once, and for several years in a row we have been ordering various delicacies – Dutch waffles, truffles, which we give to business partners on various occasions. During the entire period of cooperation, we have already ordered more than 7.5 thousand. delicious sets”, says A. Žilinskaitė.

The founder and manager of the restaurant, T. van Wijk, adds that partnerships with large organizations are especially necessary for social business – they contribute to the possibility of employing more disabled people.

“When we started the partnership, our restaurant was not in a very favorable location, so we were looking for ways to make it successful in terms of business. We started making Dutch waffles, which we offered for purchase at lunch. “Tele2″ was the first to order our waffles for testing, and later as a Christmas present for the company’s employees throughout Lithuania. It’s been an incredible business boost for us. After that, we started to receive inquiries from other businesses in Lithuanian cities – Klaipėda, Kaunas, Marijampolė,” recalls T. van Wijkas.

This year, “Tele2” festive gift boxes with vegan Dutch waffles baked by “Primo blyno” employees were supplemented with mugs, which were also made by people with disabilities. The production of the cups was taken care of by the organization Dideles akys, which provides multifaceted assistance to the disabled.

According to T. van Wijk, such a gift is much more meaningful. “The Christmas period is very important for us, because it allows us to earn money for the development of our activities. For example, last year after Christmas we were able to buy a coffee machine. This allows us to offer more value to restaurant guests and further expand our business areas. The companies that contact us are very concerned about diversity and inclusion within their organization, so their support for social business shows additional concern for this topic,” the restaurant manager assures.

The opportunity to live life to the fullest

The founder of the Pirmas blynas restaurant says that the employees are looking forward to the Christmas period. A few weeks before Christmas, the restaurant opens a festive workshop, where everyone wraps gifts made for business customers at a common table. According to T. van Wijk, the motivation of the restaurant’s employees is incomparable, they often ask to work more than planned.

“Most people with disabilities want to have a normal life. The only way to achieve this is to have a job. One of our colleagues told me when he came to work that he wanted to have a wife, a house, children – this was his clear goal. After getting a job, he managed to buy a home and find a second half. Other colleagues, who are also friends, earned their own personal money for the first time and now often spend their free time together. These are clear examples of why it is so important for people with disabilities to have the opportunity to earn money,” says T. van Wijkas.

“People with disabilities want and can work, and the partnership of large businesses with social businesses or non-governmental organizations can help not only to preserve, but also to create new jobs. We believe these gifts help create the Christmas spirit and contribute to creating meaningful activities for those with special needs. We encourage other businesses and people to contribute to reducing stigma and support the desire of people with disabilities to be full members of society,” adds A. Žilinskaitė.

Uzsak.