"We want to show that everyone is capable"

At first glance, it could be just another restaurant where you feel like staying for a chat after lunch. It has a terrace overlooking a pond, wooden tables, yellow chairs and a garden right next door. But É Um Restaurante – Parque, which opened in April in Amadora, has a distinctive feature that is not revealed on the menu: it is also a place where people in vulnerable situations are given the opportunity to learn a profession and rebuild their lives.

“These are people who, for a long time, have been written off by society. We want to show that everyone is capable,” explains Florencia Salvia, Partnerships & Fundraising Manager at CRESCER, the organisation behind the restaurant. And we’re here to discover a project that goes far beyond the kitchen and table service.

Restaurants that open the door to new opportunities

É Um Restaurante – Parque is the latest addition to CRESCER’s portfolio of food service ventures, but it is far from the organisation’s only hospitality project. In total, CRESCER operates five venues: two restaurants open to the public, in Lisbon and Amadora, and three dining facilities located within the premises of Cofidis, Ageas and AstraZeneca. The organisation also runs a catering service for events. However, CRESCER’s story began long before it entered the restaurant business.

Since 2001, they have been working with people in vulnerable situations, including those experiencing homelessness, people affected by substance use, refugees and migrants. Throughout this journey, the organisation identified a recurring challenge: many wanted to work but were unable to find opportunities suited to their circumstances.

“People kept telling us they wanted to work, but couldn’t. The opportunities available were not adapted to their needs, and it was extremely difficult,” recalls Florencia Salvia.

In 2019, É Um Restaurante – Avenida opened in Lisbon. The idea was to create a restaurant open to the public, offering high-quality food and supported by experienced professionals, where people who had been excluded from the labour market could learn a profession in a real working environment.

The concept has continued to grow, but its purpose remains the same. “We want to equip people with skills and improve their quality of life,” explains Florencia. For CRESCER, hospitality is, above all, a starting point.

Seven months to build confidence

The challenges faced by those joining CRESCER’s hospitality projects vary widely. Some have never worked in a professional kitchen, while others have been out of the labour market for several years. What they share is a desire to work and a need for an opportunity.

The training programme lasts seven months and combines 150 hours of classroom-based learning with hands-on experience in the association’s restaurants and catering operations. No previous experience is required. Participants learn culinary and front-of-house service techniques, while also developing communication, teamwork and conflict-resolution skills.

“They learn by doing,” says Florencia Salvia, explaining that participants work side by side with experienced professionals. Re-establishing routines and rebuilding confidence can be just as important as learning a trade, particularly for those who have spent many years out of work. For this reason, every participant is supported by a case manager who helps with practical matters, from preparing a CV to opening a bank account.

This support continues throughout the job search process and during the first six months of employment, or longer if needed.

Catering with a purpose

The catering service grew naturally following the opening of the restaurants. “Some companies started asking whether we provided catering. We began offering the service, and today we receive a huge number of requests,” recalls Florencia.

Today, CRESCER provides coffee breaks, lunches, dinners and takeaway meals, working with companies, associations and European institutions. For the participants, catering also offers the chance to experience professional environments beyond the restaurant settings where they work on a daily basis.

“When we provide catering, we find ourselves in very different environments, working with very different people. I think that gives participants a broader range of experiences, which is incredibly valuable,” she explains.

I think companies are increasingly aware that they have a role to play in promoting social inclusion

 Florencia Salvia

It is through the catering business that CRESCER established its connection with the Galp Foundation, which hires the organisation’s services for events and social impact initiatives.

Beyond creating training and employment opportunities, this activity generates revenue that helps cover the costs of social support programmes and reduces dependence on external funding. The goal, Florencia explains, is “to provide a more stable and sustainable response.”

A home is also a starting point

Ana’s story shows that finding a job is only part of the journey. For people living in highly vulnerable circumstances, having a safe place to sleep, rebuild daily routines and begin planning for the future can be transformative.

That is why CRESCER’s work goes far beyond vocational training. Among its initiatives is É Uma Casa, inspired by the Housing First model, which is based on a simple principle: first provide stable housing for people experiencing homelessness and then support them in rebuilding their lives. “First comes housing. Then we deal with everything else,” says Florencia Salvia.

The project began in 2013 with seven homes and has since grown to around 150 housing units. According to Florencia, approximately 90% of the people supported do not return to homelessness, while around 20% go on to enter the labour market.

The homes are rented by the association on the private housing market and are spread across different neighbourhoods to encourage community integration. “People build relationships with their neighbours and make use of local community resources,” explains Florencia.

There Are Many Ways to Make a Difference

Every meal served, every job opportunity created and every home where someone can start again is part of a bigger goal: helping people regain their independence.

As Florencia puts it: “For us, a person who no longer needs our support is a success story.” There are many ways to help make sure that more stories reach that outcome.