"WELL" – Women Empowerment by Local Livelihood is the philosophy behind Well Studio Cafe 2007-2020. A social enterprise from Orly, the co-founder of WELL studio cafe, working to solve equality in employment for local women in the food industry with on-the-job training, paired with ongoing career coaching and support. 

 

The Vision: Orly had a vision about bringing the dignity of work and the promise of a living wage to the most vulnerable. She co-founded Well Studio cafe in the winter of 2007. It had since become one of the best eateries in Auroville, famous for its Mediterranean cuisine. 

Orly saw food as a vehicle for larger life lessons, facilitating the on-the-job training curriculum, including food safety and culinary and baking techniques, and life skills such as conflict resolution, communication skills, and financial literacy. 

 

WELL studio cafe project was deeply connected to the women empowerment project Well Paper, and they sold their handcrafted up-cycled products next to the restaurant. 

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WELL studio was also known for arts and crafts, involving many artists from the AV community and the world. Various Art exhibitions, festivals, workshops, art music, community gatherings, and many events are organized in collaboration with Hibiscus Art Village, run by local artists. 

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Engagement through Food:  

 

Supporting cultural diversity, business equity, and female entrepreneurship

 

Evocative stories about food, people, and place: Food lies at the heart of the community, and there are hidden entrepreneurs in the kitchens of many homes. WELL Studio Cafe was both as a space—community restaurant and the program—and an incubator that helped women advance their careers and their lives.

 

Strengthening: The soft outcomes of this project included deep community investment, hiring from within their local communities, and a more robust, equitable, and inclusive food economy. Aimed at creating real and lasting economic change by cultivating low-income food entrepreneurs at the grassroots level.

 

Business mentorship: Women received business mentorship along with ongoing access to food training. Orly provided 1:1 mentorship to guide and connect them to various opportunities, from catering opportunities to farmers' markets and brick and mortars.