Café Joyeux is a solidarity-based café-restaurant chain that trains and employs people with mental or cognitive disabilities. On March 21, to mark World Down Syndrome Day, Air France brought this inspiring concept to New York-JFK Airport. This temporary café, run by baristas in training, offered passengers a warm and convivial moment, highlighting the inclusion of these young individuals as part of the partnership with the Air France Foundation.
Set up across from the Air France check-in kiosks, the pop-up welcomed customers with coffee and mini pastries. Passengers were able to discover the initiative led by Café Joyeux, interact with these talented young people, and raise awareness about the professional inclusion of people with disabilities. The event provided travelers with an inspiring experience and gave the young baristas a unique opportunity.
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The Air France Foundation at the Heart of Inclusion Efforts
For more than 30 years, the Air France Foundation has been committed to supporting the social and professional inclusion of young people in vulnerable situations. It supports initiatives that foster autonomy, access to employment, and equal opportunities for all. In this spirit, the Foundation funds the training of young baristas at Café Joyeux in New York, helping them develop skills and find long-term employment opportunities, all while raising public awareness about the value of diversity.
The Commitment of Air France’s Teams in New York
The operation, driven by employees fully dedicated to volunteer mentorship, offered passengers a warm welcome and helped showcase this inclusive initiative. This commitment reflects how Air France employees, wherever they are, work alongside the foundation’s partner organizations to support meaningful career paths, foster independence, and contribute to solidarity-based projects.
About Café Joyeux
Founded in Rennes in 2017, Café Joyeux is a solidarity-based café-restaurant whose mission is to promote the professional inclusion of people with mental or cognitive disabilities. The organization trains and employs its baristas and servers, enabling them to develop professional skills while working in a public-facing environment. Now present in several cities in France and internationally, Café Joyeux operates around ten café-restaurants and continues to expand its inclusive model worldwide.