Sweet taste of dignity
Autistic and Down Syndrome young adults man the ovens and stock the shelves at Bake With Dignity’s bakery in Sunway.
PETALING JAYA: The lovely smell of freshly baked goodies greets visitors to Bake With Dignity’s shop in Bandar Sunway.
Inside, an array of brownies, cupcakes, cakes and cookies tempts from inside a display case and on top of counters, all ready to be enjoyed by those with a sweet tooth.
While it may look like just any other bakery with bread and buns, its purpose is distinctly different.
The brainchild of NGO Dignity and Services which focuses on persons with learning disability, Bake With Dignity aims to help create opportunities for such young adults to be self-sufficient.
Dignity and Services executive director Helen Teh said the bakery, which is open from 10am to 5pm from Monday to Friday, employs 11 bakers with Down Syndrome and autism.
“One of them, Kevin, is employed full-time while the others work part-time,” said Teh, adding that the tasks for each of the young adults were assigned based on individual abilities.
“For those who need more support and are non-verbal, and who find interacting with the public challenging, they will work in the kitchen.
“Those who can serve customers and work at the cash register will work at the front and help out in the kitchen,” she added.
Working at the bakery, she said, brings joy and a feeling of accomplishment to the young adults.
“They’re happy because they know they have participated in baking the goodies.
“With each tray of bakes that come out of the oven, they feel a sense of achievement and pride.
“They keep telling us with pride, ‘I baked that,” she said, smiling.
She said rather than just giving the young adults charity, employing them at Bake With Dignity helped raise their self-esteem and self-confidence.
“It also helps them to interact and integrate into society,” she said, adding that the bakes had no added artificial colouring or flavouring.
Teh said for now, the bakery caters only to customers who order ahead.
“The walk-in crowd is still low, so we bake to order to keep the items fresh and warm,” she said.
Walk-ins are not encouraged so pre-order by texting 010-288 1201 or 010-288 1203. Bake With Dignity is located at A2-126, Leisure Commerce Square, Petaling Jaya.