Mahaba Café Officially Opens with Graduation Celebration
Achievements of ten young people marked at new venue
Left to right: Polly Knewstub, Muriel Morgan Walckiers, Dele Ryder, Richard Kornicki, Deputy Mayor Fabduma Mohamed. Picture: Anne Valluy
July 17, 2025
Mahaba Café’s community hub in West Ealing was officially launched last Thursday (10 July) with a celebration of the graduation of ten young people.
They had all successfully completed the venue’s bespoke employment work experience and full training programme for those with learning disabilities.
The event was attended by Mr Richard Kornicki CBE DL, Representative Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Ealing, the Deputy Mayor of Ealing, Councillor Faduma Mohamed, Councillor Polly Knewstub, and Dele Ryder, Partnership and Fundraising Manager for A2Dominion. They joined friends, family members, local businesses, and supporters of the cafe.
Graduates Eaangalan, Yasmin, Farhan, Federico, Jamal, Harrison, Andrew, Austin and Zaynab spent time on work experience and training with Mahaba in a real café environment. Each learner followed a personalised plan developed in partnership with their colleges and support teams. The training focused on building confidence and practical skills for work in hospitality and retail.
These young people can now move on to the centre’s Unlocking Employment Programme, designed to help them secure meaningful, paid work. Mahaba works closely with potential employers with the aim of ensuring each graduate is supported into the right opportunity.
Muriel Morgan Walckiers, Founder of Mahaba Café, said, “I am so proud of our graduates. Their determination and growth have been incredible to watch. I am especially pleased to share that one of them, Jamal, has already secured a job. We are now focused on supporting all our learners into work. Thanks to the goodwill and backing of so many in Ealing, Mahaba Café is open and ready. We encourage businesses to work with us and tap into this brilliant talent pool.”
Mr Richard Kornicki CBE DL, Representative Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Ealing, who has supported the project from the early days, added, “My congratulations to all of Mahaba Café’s graduates. The self-assurance and skills they have learnt here have given them the capacity to go out into the world of work and play their part. But Mahaba Café is not just about coffee, it’s about how we work together, supporting each other; this evening we celebrated the result of individual, family, team and corporate activity coming together. I’m also delighted to thank A2Dominion for their incredible support for this venture and for making the venue itself available.”
Mahaba Café was founded in response to a serious gap in opportunities. Just 2.2 percent of adults with learning disabilities in Ealing are currently employed. Its mission is to change that by proving what’s possible and building strong connections between training, community and local business.
It has recently been shortlisted in several categories at the 2025 Young Ealing Foundation Awards. These include Outstanding Youth Professional (Muriel Morgan Walckiers), Best Partnership (Mahaba Café and A2Dominion), and Fighting Inequality (for its training programme). The team is also recognised for its collaboration with Haven Woods, a space offering woodland wellbeing sessions for young people with additional needs.
Mahaba Café is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm, on the Green Man Estate, Singapore Road, W13 0EP. All are welcome to stop by.
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