It has become something of a cherished tradition that, for the past three years, the Group Markets Execution team has been planning an event with Lebenshilfe Wien.

In the first year, we were still very cautious because, although we knew that our meeting would be with people with disabilities, the severity and nature of their disabilities were unknown, so we planned a visit to Schönbrunn Zoo. Last year, we were a little more courageous and ventured on an interactive museum visit to Madame Tussauds. In the meantime, we have gotten to know each other very well and we know that most of them also have jobs. Some have families. They experience the same joys and sorrows as we do. With this knowledge, what idea should we implement this year to give our friends an unforgettable experience?

You could say it was a flash of inspiration that struck me like magic. Magic? It was! Perhaps we could ask a magician if he would perform on campus. Tricky Niki responded to my request via his website within a few hours and called me back. Due to the equipment required, a performance on campus would have been an enormous challenge, so Niki helped us organise a cabaret evening at CasaNova.

Thanks to financial support from TimeBank and a generous discount from the organiser, we had the opportunity to meet for dinner at a typical Viennese restaurant on 25 April before our cabaret evening. The joy of seeing each other again was great, and so the time was used for intensive discussions. My colleague Hind Jassani, who was able to participate for the first time this year, expressed what one or two colleagues were thinking: ‘The warmth, openness and gratitude of the group touched me and showed how important shared experiences and laughter are, and that we can all learn from this zest for life.’

After dinner, we walked to CasaNova – for those who don't know it, it's located in the basement. Tricky Niki enchanted us not only with his tricks, but also with his delightful puppets, to which he gave a voice through ventriloquism. He repeatedly involved the audience in his show. It was a highlight for Katharina that she was randomly selected to participate in a trick. The surprise was even greater when Peter and Alexander were allowed to go on stage to take part in a card trick. But even those who did not take part in the show were happy for their friends. How wonderful that envy and resentment have no chance here!

At the end of the evening, our entire group of 30 people was invited onto the stage, where we received autograph cards and had a group photo taken. However, my personal highlight was seeing all the smiling faces. For many, it was their first visit to a cabaret, and it couldn't have gone better!

Every single participant expressed their heartfelt thanks as they said goodbye, and I can only echo those thanks: 

Thank you, Sabine Sturm from TimeBank – without your financial support, we would not be able to make experiences like this possible!

Thank you, Niki, for helping us with the organisation and for literally enchanting us all!

Thank you to the CasaNova team for allowing us to laugh so heartily in your basement and for your generous pricing.

And many thanks to Lebenshilfe Wien and its customers: you give us so much warmth and show us that a life without grumbling and discontent is not only possible but admirable.

Author: Sabine Adametz