Open a coffee shop to create "second Life" for mentally handicapped children

Open a coffee shop to create a "second life" for mentally handicapped children

The children gathered around the lantern to sum up the gains and losses.

The teacher instructed Xiaotian to make embossed lamps.

The children are carefully adjusting the position of the flowers on the pressure lantern.

Xiaotian is making bookmarks.

"This lamp is especially beautiful. It was made by a special clerk in the shop…" A pleasant voice came from a coffee shop. December 17, Chengdu Wuhou District Jinnan Tianjie in a public coffee shop bustling. This small shop was not very eye-catching, but the shop was very warm. The walls have shop assistants 'own paintings, and the tables have shop assistants' hand-made embossed crafts and delicious handmade nougat. Since opening this year, this coffee shop, which is staffed by a special group of people, has attracted the attention of many citizens. Cheng Cheng, the shop assistant, greeted everyone at the door with joy every day...

7 special shop assistants 9 teachers to guide

Since its opening in March this year, this public coffee has three teachers and seven students, as well as three technical instructors and three career counselors. Zhang Yuan explained: "Because these seven students all have different degrees of intellectual disability or mental disorder, The technical teacher to the children demonstration steps, The children are unable to understand, Need professional career guidance teacher to technical teacher's action disassembly, Formulate rules, After can teach the children step by step." Zhang Yuan is a post-90s generation, is the owner of this coffee shop, in her eyes, these and her similar age shop assistants are "children," she is like taking care of children in the same way.

"Teacher Zhang, I sold a box of nougat!" Cheng Cheng, who suffers from autism, excitedly said to Zhang Yuan. Four months into the coffee shop, Cheng Cheng's progress is obvious. "They have the ability to work, and they also have the desire to earn money to support themselves. I want to satisfy their wishes." Zhang Yuan said that although creativity is a little poor, but the children's "replication" is quite amazing.

Parents of disabled children are happy that their children can work in coffee shops. In their view, this is not only a job, but also an imagination of the future. Cheng Cheng's mother said: "Cheng Cheng came home from work that day and sat at the desk reciting the formula. The result was that the store had to take an examination. Cheng Cheng's concentration was good throughout the whole process." Thanks to such a good career reconstruction program, Cheng Cheng has made great progress and is taking a lot of initiative."

Special groups touched by idol MV

The coffee shop is a bit of a coincidence. In 2013, Zhang Yuan first began to think about how to help these children because she watched the MV of the idol May Day song "Happy Birthday" themed to help special children.

According to Zhang Yuan, she once took a friend to the Goodwill Home, a non-profit public welfare organization that provides services and training for children and patients with comprehensive intellectual disabilities such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation and autism. Near the door, my friend looked at the almost manic 'patient' in the room and hesitated for a long time without plucking up the courage to enter. Zhang Yuan understands his friend's performance very well: "Ordinary people may not accept it, but I hope everyone must understand."

Not long ago, Zhang Yuan encountered such a situation on the bus: a person repeated the name of the bus stop. It was rush hour, and the bus was crowded with people, but there was no one around the person who reported the bus stop name. Everyone was far away. Others might not know, but Zhang Yuan knew that the person was autistic. "I hope everyone can pay more attention to such groups, understand them, help them, rather than simply bypass them." Zhang Yuan said.

Coffee training gives children hope.

Starting in 2014, Zhang Yuan, a long-time volunteer, found that most institutions were reluctant to accept older special children, who had to return home to live in confusion. Can these children integrate into society? After many years without their parents, what kind of life will they face? Zhang Yuan thought of the warm picture of autistic children making soap in the MV video of "happy birthday," and an idea came up_to open a shop for these special children.

In May 2015, Zhang Yuan's training class was opened with the support of Wuhou District Disabled Persons 'Federation and Good Workers' Home. Because he had a cafe in Sansheng Township, coffee training was naturally the first thing he thought of. "At least you can go directly to my shop to work!" With her efforts, more than 30 people participated in the training at most.

The student who impressed Zhang Yuan the most was Zhang Mu. Zhang Mu was sent to his home by his family for mild mental retardation. He didn't like to communicate with the game machine all day long. The opening of the training class aroused Zhang Mu's interest,"One day I just arrived at the training class, Zhang Mu took the book and asked me what 'siphon pot' is?" Zhang Yuan said. Taking the book from Zhang Mu, Zhang Yuan saw the untidy handwriting. Even if there are still problems in communication, Zhang Mu's love for making coffee has jumped on paper, and Zhang Yuan is more determined to continue the training class.

In March 2016, the coffee shop located in Jinnantian Street, Wuhou District officially opened. The name, Zhang Yuan thought of a long time ago, also comes from the idol Mayday song name_"Second Life." "I hope to create a second life for these children, not only to give them hope, but also to give their families hope." Zhang Yuan said.

Earning wages to support themselves is the goal of everyone's efforts

Second Life Public Welfare Coffee Shop's training for disabled people not only stays on coffee, but also handmade notebooks, ornaments, bookmarks, nougat, embossing and so on. At present, the public coffee shop is in a non-profit state, and the shop assistants are in the practical operation training stage. "Children have not done similar work before, and to get into normal working conditions, they need more training than ordinary people." The children are now subsidized monthly by the government. After graduation, there will be suitable work arrangements. For example, Zhang Mu, we plan to hire him as the manager of the coffee shop. Wages will be distributed according to performance and specific job content." Zhang Yuan said.

In coffee shops, people with moderate cerebral palsy are still stubborn, and they will carefully place them again and again.

Hand embossed products on the position of flowers, grasp the proportion of nougat ingredients. "Stubborn is used here. It's quality." Zhang Yuan said. In addition to the government's monthly subsistence allowance, coffee shops pay them wages. To support themselves and finally integrate into society is the goal of Zhang Yuan and their joint efforts. (Special groups in the text are pseudonyms)