Steps with Theera cafe at The COMMONS Thonglor

To create a safe space for everyone to be themselves. To provide learning opportunity and create equal employment opportunity for people with disabilities. In Thailand, there are approximately 800,000 people with disabilities in working age. 500,000 of them are willing and able to work but not employed. Our mission is to provide “steps to independence, steps to employment, steps to equality”.

Steps with Theera Café at the COMMONS will be a flagship and high visibility coffee shop. It is also an expansion and continuation of existing branches (Ekamai 10, Sukhumvit 42, St. Andrews International School). In addition to these 4 branches, Steps with Theera plans to expand 2-4 locations in international schools, offices of partner business, or commercially viable, high traffic locations. Coffee shops in these areas will expose our mission to a large number of customers, who will see our trainees being valuable employees and will eventually change the perception that people with learning differences cannot work.

Why the COMMONS? 

A high traffic location with the right target group of customers including the new generation who are better connected with social responsibility, those with high spending power, those working in larger organisations, and both local, expats and tourists. These groups of customers can play an important role in influencing changes within companies and society in general to be more open-minded and embrace differences of people.

The COMMONS ethos is based on bringing people together and forming a community. The owners are strong advocates for equality and are invested in ensuring the project is viable and impactful. Other training and employment opportunities will evolve for our community by being part of the COMMONS.  

Children and Adolescent
Children and adolescents from mainstream schools in Bangkok are welcomed to join Steps run workshops that will allow them to interact and learn more about other people who are different. In partnership with Little Pea, a space that offers multi-sensory play and activities for children, we will also provide an inclusive safe space for children to play when coming with their family and activities that are accessible for all.
Expected number of beneficiaries : 500 children/ year

General Public
Everyone can come to visit, buy a product, or use service provided by social businesses or for profit businesses within the project. They can learn from this that people with disabilities are able to work and being an inclusive employer or company can be beneficial for your business.
Expected number of beneficiary : 8,000 customers/ year

People with disability/ people from a disadvantaged background
The cafe will provide work experience and life skills for people with disabilities from all backgrounds. People with disabilities from underprivileged background will be financially supported by Steps foundation.
Expected number of beneficiary : 80-100 trainees/ year

Teachers 

The project will allow Steps to employ more job coaches and therapists who are able to provide training to teachers from mainstream schools in Bangkok on how to adjust the teaching/ curriculum to accommodate all types of students, with different skills and interests. Expected number of beneficiary : 20-40 teachers/ year

Project benefits

1. The project will be a universal design space that creates training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities, as well as access to the community
2. It will be a community space which promotes equality by educating local community and modelling inclusion
3. The project aims to have 5 inclusive social enterprise businesses and space for NGOs, Social Enterprises, or companies working towards similar goals
4. The bigger space of the new site will enable us to cater to a larger number of trainees with more vocational program varieties to support different needs of each person with disability

Project owner

Steps with Theera : Max and Uang, founders of Steps with Theera, both have family members who have learning differences. Max’s background is in special education and inclusion, while Uang’s background is in international relations, she also has experience as a mother of a child with autism. Both of the founders experienced a lack of educational and employment opportunities for people with learning differences which lead to their passion and dedication to solve this problem, not just for their own family members but also for everyone in this community.

• Max Simpson : CEO and Founder of Steps with Theera : max@stepswiththeera.com
• Uang Theeta  : Director and Founder of Steps with Theera uang@stepswiththeera.com

Partners

This is the list of partner companies and organisations that 1) purchase Steps’s products and services which in turn create work for Steps trainees 2) provide knowledge and vocational training to Steps trainees or 3) employ Steps graduates to work in their companies/ organisations :

1. St. Andrews International School www.nordangliaeducation.com
2. NIST International School www.nist.ac.th
3. Berkeley International School www.berkeley.ac.th
4.  El Mercado www.elmercadobangkok.com
5. The Commons www.thecommonsbkk.com
6. Broccoli Revolution www.broccolirevolution.com
7. Attic Studios www.facebook.com/AtticStudios
8. Hyatt Regency Sukhumvit https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/thailand/hyatt-regency-bangkok-sukhumvit/bkkhr
9. Rembrandt Hotel www.rembrandtbkk,com
10. RMA Group www.rmagroup.net
11. Patom Organic Living www.patom.com

Mark

• Those who donate more than 1,000 Bht will receive one pack of energy balls made by Steps trainees (to be picked up at Steps with Theera, Ekamai 10)
• Those who donate more than 5,000 Bht will receive 15% discount when dining at Steps with Theera (Ekamai 10) or Theera (Sukhumvit 42)
• Those who donate more than 10,000 Bht will receive Steps hamper designed by Steps trainees (to be picked up at Steps with Theera, Ekamai 10 or sent to their addresses)
• Those who donate more than 50,000 Bht will receive a 3,000 -Baht gift voucher and one pack of energy balls made by Steps trainees. Gift voucher can be used at Steps with Theera, Ekamai 10 for food and drinks.
• Those who donate more than 100,000 Bht will participate in Energy balls workshop with Steps trainees and get a free set lunch (maximum 6 participants)