CONNECTOR.AE 56 CONNECTOR.AE 57 LIFESTYLE LIFESTYLE Connector In Conversation With Raghu Raman Dhandapani, Founder Of 21 Cafe, Dubai’s Café Staffed By People Of Determination In the heart of Al Ghurair Centre, Deira, stands 21 Café, a small yet powerful symbol of inclusion and hope. “My son, Keerthi Vasan, was born in Saudi Arabia in the year 2000, and immediately after his birth, the doctor informed us that he was a special child”, Raghu recalls. “We had no prior knowledge of Down Syndrome. It was heartbreaking, but he’s a lucky child in many ways. We quickly learnt and did everything we could to ensure he had the best life possible”. As Keerthi Vasan grew, Raghu and his family noticed a familiar pattern, namely, his world was confined to the safety of home and familiarity of the faces of his immediate family members. Raghu says, “His growth became limited because of his limited social engagement. He knew what I was going to ask, and he would always respond the same way. That was the only cycle he had known for over two decades”. Determined to provide his son with a meaningful and responsible social life, Raghu began to consider how he could expand his world. “Studies show that when people with Down Syndrome socialise more, their cognitive reflexes improve. I knew I had to create a space that encourages that”, Raghu says. The answer that dawned on him was quite simple, yet powerful. A coffee shop. FromAn Idea To A Café The idea for 21 Café took shape in 2022, when Keerthi Vasan crossed 21, the legal working age. Raghu, who has worked in Saudi Arabia for over 30 years, saw Dubai as the perfect city for the venture. “Dubai is vibrant, cosmopolitan, and Beyond its rich brews and cheerful interiors lies a deeply personal and extraordinary story. This café, staffed by people of determination, is the vision of Raghu Raman Dhandapani, an Indian engineer-turned-social entrepreneur based in Saudi Arabia, who opened this unique venture not to chase profit, but to create opportunity and a safe space for those often overlooked by society. The café is proudly staffed by people with Down Syndrome, people who light up the atmosphere and the hearts of those who visit. For Raghu Raman, the journey began not in a boardroom or a business incubator, but at home, with his son, Keerthi Vasan, who was born with Down Syndrome. A Father’s Vision, A Son’s Inspiration Down Syndrome is the most common genetic disorder globally, affecting 1 in every 800 births. In the Middle East, the rate is even higher, with 2.2 cases per 1,000 live births, according to the Centre for Arab Genomic Studies. It comes with not just medical and developmental challenges, but emotional and social ones as well, for both the parents and the children. Raghu’s story, therefore, is one that many parents in the UAE will find resonant. ‘‘For Raghu Raman, the journey began not in a boardroom or a business incubator, but at home, with his son, Keerthi Vasan, who was born with Down Syndrome.’’
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