On Tuesday, 27 May 2025, the first international meeting dedicated to "Inclusive Cafés" took place, online via Zoom, with the aim of initiating a comparison between different experiences of social and labour inclusion born around the solidarity café model. The initiative, promoted by the General Government of the Hospitaller Order of St John of God, aims to strengthen and spread these realities within the Order, while at the same time broadening their impact outwards.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the projects in Barcelona (Spain), Linz (Austria), Wolverhampton (UK) and Seoul (Korea), each of whom shared their journey, illustrating the results achieved, the difficulties encountered and future prospects.

In addition to the managers and creators of the cafés (Mila Fernandez and Juanjo Ortega from Spain, Lee Smith from the United Kingdom, Sandra Grininger and Stefanie Breiteneder from Austria and Mrs Kim Hoikyung from Korea), the meeting was also attended by Paul Bott (member of the Order's Enlarged General Council and responsible for emerging realities), Joan Uribe (Director of Hospitality Europe), Katia Morello (Cooperation Office) and Bro Joaquim Erra.

In Barcelona, Cafetería D'ins-SJD is a project with a strong social value that offers employment opportunities to people in a vulnerable situation or with disabilities. Located in the Campus Docent SJD in Sant Boi de Llobregat (a university training institute in the field of health), it is mainly aimed at a young audience, with affordable prices and a sustainable, inclusive offer in tune with the educational environment in which it is located.

In Wolverhampton (a city located in the west of central England), the Pomegranate Café is a community organisation that combines social responsibility and local engagement. All profits go to support the mission of the Good Shepherd organisation to combat poverty and homelessness. Thanks to its strategic location near bus and train stations, the café attracts residents and visitors, becoming a landmark in the neighbourhood.

Café Gutmut in Linz, Austria, is the first café in the country run in sign language and integrated by people with hearing disabilities. Set up as a social enterprise, it promotes employment and vocational training for deaf people, enhancing inclusion and cultural exchange. The project is supported by a scientific evaluation programme that analyses the quality of life, psychological well-being and autonomy of the people involved.

In Seoul, Korea, the Granada Café Centre is a sheltered workshop for people with cognitive disabilities, who work as baristas. This experience has improved their communication skills, self-esteem and social integration.

The last project to be presented was the initiative café d'idees: trenca la soledat illustrated by Juanjo Ortega, director of the Social Work of the Province of Spain, a project created to combat unwanted loneliness.

During the meeting, an exchange of best practices and future visions was opened, which led to the proposal to set up a sub-working group to draw up shared tools, such as common operating manuals and guidelines, to identify best practices and, above all, to start networking.

This first meeting represented a first concrete step towards the construction of an international network of solidarity "Cafés", bearing witness to the Order's commitment to promoting inclusion, dignity and hospitality through work and sharing.