A special apartment the B&B Via delle iDee. Agnese and Giovanni work there, sometimes Tobia and other friends of theirs who have something in common: they are all affected by Down syndrome. Their commitment to this project, the first and only in Italy, arises from the need to live a form of normality that is the same for everyone. Normality and inclusion, two keywords to realize a dream imagined before the spread of the pandemic and which, despite the difficulties created by the Coronavirus, has come true. The protagonists of this adventureAssociation of social promotion of iDee of Bologna which for years has been "building" autonomy courses for children and adults who are affected by down syndrome. Paths that have allowed those who attend them to reach good levels of competence in various areas.
For example, before the pandemic broke out, Agnese worked for the Buoni Pasto Day company. Her contract is still valid but only in the smartworking mode, not suitable for those with this type of problem. Giovanni was about to join the staff of Eataly, active in the restaurant business, but the Coronavirus has temporarily closed Eataly and most of the restaurant activities in Italy. Tobia, on the other hand, was a little luckier. He used to work at Decathlon, stayed at home during the lockdown last spring but has currently resumed work because Decathlon is open.
The B&B Via delle iDee, right in the center of Bologna
It is in this fabric, of great sensitivity but also of extreme fragility, that the B&B Vie delle iDee. It is no coincidence that it bears the name of the association that dreamed of it and that worked to make this dream a reality. Is situated right in the historic center of Bologna, in the arcades of via Saragozza, two kilometers from Piazza Maggiore.
It is managed, in rotation, by the fourteen children and young adults followed by the Association of iDee, with the support of the operators of the Association itself. They work in groups of two, so everyone can be involved. Who takes care of the reception, some of the arrangement of the room, some of the kitchen. Agnese, for example, tells us that in these first days of activity (the B&B Via delle iDee has just been opened) she took care of the breakfasts, of the kitchen, but also of arranging the slippers and towels in the room. And she was very pleased to meet the first guests. Agnese is a very active person in the Bed and Breakfast but also in the Association, where she follows writing and cooking workshops.
Along the paths of inclusion and normality
“We thought of the B&B - explains Giacomo Busi, coordinator of iDee - convinced that the good level of competence our children and young adults had reached could be made available to others and in this sense we began to work. Then came the pandemic, but we still decided not to stop. With one more reason. The project could also have involved those guys who, due to Coronavirus, had lost their jobs. Not because they no longer had the contract but because the smartworking method is not the most suitable for those who have the down syndrome. We need a form of normality to be able to continue integrating people. The B&B Via delle iDee presented itself as a possibility of inclusion for those suffering from this particular disability ".
An excellent quality B&B to include disability in a concept of beauty
“We then moved on. The Bed and Breakfast is located right in front of the Association's headquarters, in an apartment we rented. We can accommodate two people in a double bedroom plus two more in a large sofa bed. Before even opening, the first day we appeared on the online platform, we immediately had the booking of a Spanish couple who will stay in Bologna for two weeks in January. There were also guests in these first days and we already have a reservation from Christmas until the beginning of January.
The guys are very good, they all participate and they are happy to be all involved. We are already thinking of adding an experience to the hospitality, such as a guided walk to Piazza Maggiore. Or an aperitif with the kids. We want to offer an excellent quality service. We started with the idea of creating a beautiful place because beauty does not normally enter into the context of disability. Instead, beauty wants to be one of our goals. The answer, for now, has positively surprised us ". The proverb says that whoever gets off to a good start is half the battle…. Greetings guys!
