community
The coffeeshop is a shared space of in-between moments. Residents gather here after an activity together in the park or before returning home to household chores. They exchange news, share stories and recipes, and support one another through friendship and regular presence for each other.
Stepping out of the classroom anchors learning in the real world. Student volunteers learn to be attentive to what they usually miss in their daily rush through the neighbourhood. They pick up valuable social skills to engage the community in conversations and learn to listen deeply to the nuances of community relations.
In the coffeeshop, the community is seen for their camaraderie and gifts. They are not labelled by frailty but by how they choose to identify themselves. Ageing with agency and free to come and go, the seniors forge vital social connections in the coffeshop that strengthen health. This social capital helps social workers to better serve the community.
Liu Yibai, Debbie Yuen, Bertha Sonjaja, Shan.
Photos by Song Yan