Social Cooperative “With roe – with vitality” in Rybnik

In the past, people with intellectual disabilities often had few chances to find a job and being recognised as equally qualified for work as other people.

The social cooperative was set up by Polish Association for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities and City of Rybnik. It also received support from employment services and Social Security, as well as from European Union programmes (through local NGO).

From the very beginning gastronomy has been the main business activity. The social cooperative employs 9 persons, including 8 people with disabilities. It aims at active social and occupational rehabilitation, developing or restoring skills to employment under sheltered working conditions. Everyday more than 100 meals are cooked there, served to inhabitants of Rybnik. Prices are competitive and prepared on the spot without subcontractors. The strength is good, unquestionable high quality of dishes.

Nowadays the cooperative also delivers healthy meals to elderly people (contracted by social welfare) and kids from poorer families (contracted by local NGO). It supports other social cooperatives. Just recently it has won a contract for a gastronomic point in one of the parks in Rybnik.

The main goal of the social cooperative is not to make money (it doesn’t bring great incomes) but to get persons with disabilities closer to the labour market (they wouldn’t probably get employment at open labour market). It promotes healthy and good quality food, uses innovative recipes. It’s one of a few social cooperatives in Poland set up partly by local authorities (although it doesn’t get a financial support from the City).