During training with ‘Steps’ in Bangkok, I had an opportunity to create this coffee shop at BlueTree. My name is Nakita, and I have Downs Syndrome and live in Phuket. Schooling for me in Phuket, from the age of 13 years was difficult, until I enrolled at ‘Steps with Theera’, which is an integrated training facility in Bangkok for people with learning differences. I spent 4 years at ‘Steps’, learning life skills and working with many other Trainees, developing confidence, and skills in the hospitality industry. It has always been a dream of mine, to own and work in my own coffee shop. During training with ‘Steps’ in Bangkok, I had an opportunity to create this coffee shop here at BlueTree, and provide myself the opportunity to return home to Phuket. This coffee shop welcomes other people with learning differences and challenges to work here also, in a friendly and encouraging environment. I and my team mates are working here to provide you the friendliest service, the most delicious coffee, cakes, food, and to also learn the skills necessary to integrate into society in a meaningful manner. We hope we are providing you our customers, with a valuable service, and this gives us a sense of wellbeing and usefulness. Working at our coffee shop, expands our skills in all the following areas.
⁃ Communication with you, our Customers. Please have patience with us as we understand you, write down your order and transfer it to our chef and barrister.
⁃ Development of relationships and rapport with you, our Customers.
⁃ Core requirements like clearing tables, keeping the cafe clean and safe.
⁃ Preparing your food orders in the kitchen, sometimes directly, and sometimes under the training of our chef.
⁃ Working and maintaining order when under time pressure. (When you need your coffee and cake in a hurry to get to your meeting)
⁃ Preparation for the day, start up and shut down procedures in the morning, and in the evening.
⁃ Keeping your favorite cafe clean and tidy. In my particular case, I have a limited vocabulary, so please have patience, speak slow and clear. I need to be accurate in my understanding of your order, and in writing it down. Thank you for coming to Nakitas Coffee Corner.
