This is what it's all about.
We are self-affected parents and friends of people with trisomy21. Together, we founded the «Mensch21!» association in 2019 and have been fighting for the inclusion of people with trisomy21 in the general labor market ever since. Since the beginning, we have organized gastronomic events with restaurants in Bern, where teenagers and young adults with trisomy21 have been able to cook for guests and gain their first work experience in the general labour market. Because that is precisely our goal: to prepare people with trisomy21 in niche jobs for a job or training in the general labor market. Our experience shows: they can do it!
The association was ready to launch the gastro project before the pandemic. Unfortunately, Covid had set the whole project back to zero. By joining forces, we were finally able to open our own bistro «21Stärne» in the Villa Stucki in Bern in March 2024. The bistro is professionally run by two experienced chefs and chefs de service. They support people with trisomy21 in the bistro and enable them to work in service and in the kitchen.
The bistro «21Stärne». T21 young people want to work here. 
Both in the kitchen. 
As well as in service. 
Lots of activity at the opening party. 
The dishwasher is running at full speed. 
Well done, end of the day!
Together and with YOU we are strong!
Why inclusion? People with trisomy21, like people with other disabilities, do not deserve to be marginalized and cared for in institutions where they languish in workplaces instead of being productive and developing professionally. People with trisomy21 prove that they can do this if they are given the chance.
Inclusion doesn’t just mean that they adapt to the world of work, but also that the world of work adapts to them. Our guests can testify to this: slow down embraces warmth!
In our bistro, people with trisomy21 have the opportunity to get their first taste of work and try things out. We constantly see how they blossom after just one day, experience themselves as competent and thus become fully-fledged members of this society. This is social and cultural inclusion in action!
It will only work with YOUR support!
Although our bistro is a non-profit organization, we can’t do it without YOUR financial help! We have only been open for 1 month and our guests are not yet running us ragged. Rent, wages and food costs cannot be paid by donations from those affected and our closest supporters alone.
In order for our T21 stars to be able to work with us, they need a secure job. They need working conditions and equipment that meet their needs.
YOUR financial support goes 100% towards our bistro and covers the costs for:
- individualized work equipment in kitchen & service
- compatible cash register system for T21
- Work clothes for people with T21
- Wages for internships and short assignments for T21 young people
- Further training for our employees
- Grocery shopping for the start-up phase
- Marketing such as flyers, advertising etc.
Get involved! Help us! Only with YOUR support will it be possible to build and run a sustainable bistro with T21 people!