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Description
People with mental disabilities are one of the population groups with the lowest quality of life. As a result of significantly reduced intellectual abilities, they have problems not only in perception, understanding and learning, but also in adaptive behavior (social and practical skills of everyday life). Project This and That is an innovative model of working integration of people with intellectual disabilities - "the sketchers" in order to turn their artistic hobby (drawing, graphics) into work and offer an alternative to a sheltered workshop. The idea is to make This and That innovative, financially self-sufficient and sustainable model of work inclusion that would also inspire other organizations working with people with intellectual disabilities. The aim of phase III is to complement the team with other graphic designers, illustrators and designers and, in addition to creating their own products, to carry out custom production for companies. Other activitities include: 1. Continuation of preparing adepts for the drawing position, 2. Create a business strategy based on the collected data, 3. Enter the Czech and German markets and to increase the number of partner stores. The project is a continuation of a successful project implemented in the 1st and 2nd calls, while moving up at both qualitative and quantitative level. This and That becomes a well-known brand with a long-term sustainability perspective.
Summary of project results
People with intellectual disability are one of the population groups with the lowest quality of life. Depending on the degree of disability, they need different degrees of help, from little support to total care. As a result of significantly reduced intellectual abilities, they have problems not only in perception, understanding and learning, but also in adaptive behavior, under which many social and practical skills of everyday life fall. Creative brand Hento Toto is dedicated to the education and development of artistic skills of these people and presenting their art to the public. Based on many years of experience, we decided to turn their artistic hobby (drawing, painting, graphics) into work and "use" their unique art as a way to social inclusion and thereby increase their quality of life.
In 2022, we obtained the status of a social enterprise and employed the first 3 people with mental disability. The project activities consisted of: planning and material and technical provision, stabilization of the team, education and production and sales and media coverage. Project resulted in 1500 graphic designs, 26 prototypes of new products, 13 products to order, 3 workshops, sales in 60 stores, sales via eshop, granting the status of a social enterprise, employment of 3 draftsmen with disabilities. Project serves as an example of good practice for other organizations as well. It shows that even people with mental disabilities can work effectively with proper management, which is a prerequisite for long-term economic sustainability.