Hack Kopitiam is a social care research project spear-led by Forest & Whale and Lien Foundation. The strategic care framework activates the coffeeshop as an inclusive model of community care through its stakeholders—managers, runners, hawkers, social workers, designers and artists—creating a social purpose for care advocates in the coffeeshop space to help reduce elder isolation within the community.







Commissioned by

Lien Foundation


Friends of HK 

SkillSeed Resilience Trail Leaders
Queenstown Kakis  

Collaborating Schools

Design for Social Futures program, LASALLE College of the Arts, University of Arts Singapore

Student Talent Development Program, Special Projects Unit, 
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, University of Arts Singapore

Partners

Kim San Leng Coffeeshops
Lian Hua Coffeeshop

Montfort Care 
Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities

Kebun Baru Spring RN 
Kebun Baru Precinct


Exhibitions

Ageless Stories
Community photography of how we might age with agency
 Earl Lu Gallery
 University of Arts Singapore
2026

Hack Kopitiam 
A showcase of our collaboration with socially engaged art and design graduates from NAFA, as part of the inaugural Healing Arts Festival.  
 Ngee Ann Kongsi Galleries I & II 
 University of Arts Singapore
2025

Hack Kopitiam x NAFA GRAD SHOW 
Five NAFA graduates showcase their final year projects completed in collaboration with the seniors in the Hack Kopitiam community. 
 Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts 
University of Arts Singapore
2025



Press and Media

‘Hello, uncle!’: Students help the elderly in coffee shops plug into social care system
Straits Times 
2024