A small and unusual café opens during lockdown
For several weeks, the usual social activities for disabled people and work and activity programmes for the same group have been suspended. Minimum services have been maintained for those who are healthy, but others, those with underlying health conditions, have been more or less at home to ensure the utmost safety and caution. The council's staff have tried to break up the monotony in creative and fun ways, and most recently by opening „The Little Coffee House“.
„This weekend has gone on for far too long.“ says a resident of a housing estate in Hafnarfjörður.
For several weeks, the usual social activities for disabled people and work and activity programmes for the same group have been suspended. Minimum services have been maintained for those who are healthy, but others, those with underlying health conditions, have been more or less at home to ensure the utmost safety and caution. The council's staff have tried to break up the monotony in creative and fun ways, and most recently by opening „The Little Coffee House“.
The aim is to change scenery and experience something new.
The Little Coffee House is located at 14 Suðurgata in Hafnarfjörður. Residents of a residential community in Hafnarfjörður, along with staff, can now book an appointment at „Litla kaffiHúsið“ and experience a café atmosphere, play games together or watch a film, all according to their wishes and well-being. Here, the residents can come together in a safe environment where public health guidelines on hygiene and social distancing are strictly followed, and the area is thoroughly disinfected between appointments.
„The lockdown and lack of variety is proving to be a great challenge for some residents in the residential units. Our people are used to being fully active and in a routine every weekday.“ says Hrönn Hilmarsdóttir, Head of Development and Operations for Disability Affairs at Hafnarfjörður Municipality. „The staff of the residential unit have been busy coming up with ideas for entertainment and ways to break up the day since the lockdown began, and sharing them with each other. One of the ideas is this café in “The House', a project that was launched before Easter. The building at 14 Suðurgata is home to the operations of Geitungarnir, a work and activity programme for disabled people; the leisure activities of Vinaskjól and Kletturinn for various age groups; and the Youth Centre Hamarinn for young people aged 16 to 25. All of these activities are closed or significantly restricted at the moment. „The same group gathers at the Little Coffee House, meeting in the communal space of the residential units. This is simply a change of scenery, doing something new and exciting with the same group. Staff transport residents between locations and have a pleasant time with them in a different setting to usual.“ says Hrönn, imagining that residents of all residential areas of Hafnarfjörður will make use of this opportunity more than once until the end, and the lockdown is completely lifted.