Cappuccinos and Conversation: Creating and Inclusive Community at Endiro’s Sign Language Cafe

When Nasser Ssenyondo heard about the Disability Inclusion Challenge run by Light for the World under the Make 12.4% Work Initiative, he had to apply.  After building a career as an actor in the Uganda Deaf Silent Theatre group and working for years in the NGO sector, he knew he wanted a change. This was his opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of other people with hearing impairments.

After much consideration, he decided on pitching the idea of starting a sign language cafe, to both empower people with hearing impairments economically not only, but to also provide them with a comfortable and friendly environment where they could interact with one another, raise awareness about the Deaf community, and interact with members of the hearing world.  Nasser is a longtime coffee lover and knew that a cafe was the best way to achieve his goals.

“Growing up, my family was involved in coffee farming so I have always loved it. The aroma, the financial opportunity from the coffee value chain; I knew I had to develop an idea around coffee.” – Nasser

Nasser’s pitch was successful, and he received the funding to make his dream a reality.  There was only one challenge, he lacked the industry knowledge to get things started. To facilitate the professional development that he needed to launch his business, Endiro Coffee stepped in and allowed Nasser to train with them for several months to learn the ins and outs of running a successful cafe.

Endiro Coffee is a company that aims to end child vulnerability globally through coffee, and works with coffee farmers in Budduda and Bukalasi to provide a stable and reliable market for their produce that is sold in Endiro’s coffee shops and other retailers. Endiro also provides employment opportunities to vulnerable youth that grew up in impoverished conditions; breaking the cycle of poverty in their families and communities.

“When I approached Gloria, the manager of Endiro, and told her about my plans, she advised me to first gain experience in running the business, right from service, to production, to financial management. She offered me an opportunity to work at one of the Endiro restaurants, which I did and I am glad.” – Nasser

Endiro Sign Language café has four Deaf baristas and had no hearing staff members at all. They have developed creative communication solutions to ensure an enjoyable customer experience.

After extensive training, Nasser and Endiro Coffee together launched its first sign language cafe in September 2020 as a prototype to prepare Nasser to open a shop of his own. The cafe employed four Deaf baristas and had no hearing staff members at all.  They employed a number of creative communication solutions in the branch to ensure that the customer experience was as enjoyable as possible

Some of the solutions include a whiteboard for communicating with the waitstaff, paper order sheets on every table, and post-it notes for easy conversation.  The cafe is beautifully decorated with posters teaching cafe-goers sign language and encouraging them to practice.

Conveniently located in Nakasero, the cafe has been a hit for office workers in the area, has built a loyal customer base, and has become a popular spot for meetings.

The success of the cafe has had an impact on other local businesses. The Sign Language Cafe has inspired two neighboring businesses to hire employees with hearing impairments as well, after seeing the ability-in-action of the baristas at Endiro.

Nasser is now ready to move on to the next stage in developing his business and plans to open a new franchise of Endiro Sign Language Cafe very soon!

If you would like to visit the Sign Language Cafe, you can find it conveniently located in the compound with Yujo restaurant, near Nakasero Primary School.  You can expect an excellent experience with some of the best coffee Uganda has to offer, great breakfast and lunch foods and strict adherence to Covid-19 SOPs.

Nasser had to undergo training as a staff of Endiro coffee, to learn the ins and outs of the business.

“The deaf community is so happy. I get wonderful feedback. Some think I am rich now but I tell them that this project is not about me as a person. This is about them. This business concept is meant to create awareness and open employment opportunities to more deaf people. If this concept continues well, many more will come on board. And that’s how we can Make the 12.4% Work.” – Nasser

During the lockdown, Endiro is open for deliveries between 9.00 am and 4.00 pm.

Click here to watch a preview of Endiro café.