Asia's first cafe with all HIV positive staff open in Kolkata
India Today
Asia's first cafe run by HIV positive staff has opened in Kolkata. The cafe first opened in 2018.
Asia's first cafe run exclusively by HIV positive staff has opened in Kolkata. ‘Cafe positive’ is aimed to spread awareness and generate employment for HIV positive people.
The staff consists of 7 teenagers, all of whom are HIV-positive.
The owner of the cafe, Kallol Ghosh also founded Anandaghar, an NGO which works with children affected with mental health and HIV positive people. He was inspired by a cafe in Frankfurt which was completely run by HIV positive people.
“Where will these kids go? As per juvenile justice law, one cannot stay at a home after 18 years of age. After the homes, where will the kids go? They need employment” said Kallol Ghosh to India Today.
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According to Ghosh, he first opened the cafe in 2018 and is now expanding the business. Ghosh said he has plans to come up with 30 more such cafes in Eastern India and have shortlisted 800 people for the training.
However, Ghosh said the reaction to the cafe has not always been positive. “Some people get uncomfortable. If they come and get to know that the staff is HIV positive, we explain everything to them and the majority stays back. However, some leave as well,” said Ghosh.
