“They Were Told They Couldn’t Work Because of Down Syndrome – So They Built a Successful Pizza Catering Company That Now Employs 23 People”
They were repeatedly told they couldn’t work. So instead of giving up, four determined friends with Down syndrome decided to create their own business — one that now provides jobs and opportunities for many others who faced the same rejection.In Buenos Aires, Argentina, four close friends — Mateo Kawaguchi, Leandro López Padros, Franco Noseda, and Mauricio Rolden — were constantly turned down by potential employers because of their disability.
Tired of facing constant rejection, they came together in 2016 with a bold idea: to start their own pizza catering company called Los Perejiles.Each friend brought their own unique skills to the table. One specialized in baking, another in pastry making, and the others excelled in customer service. Together, they formed a complete and highly capable team.
Their very first catering event served just 50 guests, but word spread quickly. Within only two months, they had successfully completed more than 30 events and gained an impressive 40,000 followers on Facebook.Today, the team arrives at every event fully prepared with their own mobile oven, professional uniforms, and a diverse menu that includes delicious pizzas, savory empanadas, and gluten-free options to accommodate different dietary needs.
What started as a small idea between four friends has grown into a thriving business that now employs 23 additional young people with Down syndrome, giving them meaningful work and a sense of purpose.In Argentina, approximately 75% of people with disabilities remain unemployed, and although inclusion laws exist, they are often poorly enforced. The project’s coordinator explained that the main mission of Los Perejiles is to change society’s perceptions and prove that people with Down syndrome are fully capable of participating and succeeding in the workforce when given the opportunity.
