A BITE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD

Dignita Restaurant evolved from our original Amsterdam concept — a soup company which served the women working in Amsterdam’s sex industry. This soup was made in a culinary training program which was given to vulnerable woman living in a shelter for victims of human trafficking, the soup was then sold to women working in the brothels to provide them with nutritious meals. 

Not For Sale Netherlands leaders also connected with other non-profit organizations and shelters to bring in survivors of exploitation. These women expressed interest in following training programs to offer them a new perspective and possibilities in life.

At the same time, we noticed that brunch restaurants were booming in popularity in the Dutch city. This was the perfect opportunity to build a new venture that could support our efforts in Amsterdam.

To make this a reality, the Dignita project leaders worked with world-class chefs to build a nationally recognized culinary program — where people affected by modern slavery could earn certifications in kitchen work.

Our project leaders picked a location, recruited amazing local talent, and soon launched the Dignita restaurant. This eatery is now one of the city’s top-rated recommendations on Trip Advisor, Yelp, and Facebook.

The restaurant is profitable, serves as a training center for people that come from situations of exploitation, and is setting the stage for further development in the Netherlands.

100% of Dignita profits go towards supporting the work of Not For Sale.