Atelier Manus

"As much support as necessary, as little as possible” is the motto Atelier Manus uses to promote the professional and social integration for people in the Valais Canton of Switzerland living with disabilities. 

The MISSION of the Atelier Manus is to promote the professional and social integration of people with disabilities.

Why is it important?

Since 1972, the Switzerland based Atelier Manus has guided by the motto: as much support as necessary, as little as possible. They are committed to treating their approximately 160 disabled employees with a great deal of appreciation. In order to do so, it is crucial not to focus on what is missing, but rather on what they have at hand. The potential for change does not lie in deficit, but in the resources. Through appreciation and diversity, they increase the self-confidence and vivacity of their employees with disabilities at work. They strive for the highest possible degree of normalization and accordingly the effective and full participation of their employees with disabilities is very important to the foundation.

How do they do it?

• Manus comes from the Latin word for hand. For them, Manus is the symbol for: craft, help, protection, work. Atelier Manus is a service company with 12 departments and 185 employees. This gives them a wide and varied range of high-quality products and workplaces. Most items from these listed departments may be ordered online from their store. 

• Café Weri is where people with disabilities take an active part in the work processes in the catering industry so that new paths open up for them. The café lives a zero-waste culture and wants to keep its ecological footprint as small as possible, and offers a tasty array of vegan and gluten-free items. 

• Atelier Manu’s Professional Measures signify a broad network of opportunities in employment, development, clarification, job training, integration in sheltered jobs or in the primary labor market, as well as individual solutions. 

• Brockenstube is the workshop where you will find almost everything: furniture, clothes, books, dishes, fabrics, children's toys, household items and much more. 

• The Bookbinding and Framing department offers private individuals and companies a wide variety of high-quality products and services. 

• The Garden Maintenance department will look after and manage private, public and corporate properties with an extensive year round service, always focusing on using organic fertilizers. 

• Wood Carving and Carpentry ranges from smaller items such as wine boxes and toys to larger jobs ranging from doors and furniture, skillful craftsmanship and creative design will always adhere to the workshop’s high standards. 

• The Assembly department services clients with needs both electronically or mechanically. Atelier Manus will process orders efficiently and always guarantee a perfect and timely execution. 

• Their Laundry Service department services hotels, restaurants, homes, businesses or private individuals, always guaranteeing quality and cleanliness. 

• In the Weaving department, their brightly colored hand and kitchen towels and the practical “Chuchiblätze” are particularly popular. They also design and weave placemats, table runners, tablecloths, napkins, carpets in various sizes and qualities, meditation stools, baby slings in various colors and lengths, traditional costumes and drilch fabrics for traditional ladies and gentlemen's clothing, upholstery fabrics e.g. for corner bench cushions or deck chairs.  Most of these items can be found for sale in the online store

How you can #TravelKindly: 

• Choose Atelier Manus as your local charity when you book with Kind Traveler.

• Visit the Atelier Manus workshop and take a guided tour

• Visit the shop, second-hand shop and pick up some hand-crafted goods

• Kind Travelers are welcome to have a nice meal and drinks in Atelier Manus’ Café Weri