(Source: Shangguan News) Located at the intersection of Yingxun Road and Jiangyin Street in the old town, there is a special coffee shop called "Nanfeng Warm City Benefit Space" hidden. Pushing open the door, the aroma of coffee wafted in. Behind the bar, several baristas were busy with their work with their heads down, moving slowly but skillfully. The way customers place orders is different from usual. They need to write on a small board or type on their phone to inform you. After the other person looks at you, they will give you a slight smile and turn around to start making drinks. The whole process is silent. Because the baristas here are all hearing-impaired.
According to Jia Lun, the president of the Huangpu District Public Welfare and Charity Federation, Nanfeng Warm City is a three in one project jointly created by Nanfang Group and the Federation, which combines party building guidance, charity and public welfare, and block construction. With "coffee space" as the carrier, it provides a platform for disabled people to receive skills training and employment assistance, helping them realize their self-worth and integrate into society.
In our space, people with disabilities are divided into two groups: autism and hearing impairment. At that time, the focus was on empowering vulnerable groups with intangible cultural heritage to integrate into society and achieve assisted employment, while also hoping to promote intangible cultural heritage culture, "Jia Lun introduced. For this purpose, she specifically contacted the Shanghai Public Art Collaborative Innovation Center (PACC) of the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, repeatedly selecting from numerous intangible cultural heritage techniques, selecting projects that disabled people can accept, and leading them to their place of origin for learning. They will only be willing to delve deeper into learning this intangible cultural heritage skill if they enjoy it
Jia Lun revealed that although the federation has been established for 15 years, it is still very limited to do public welfare alone. Fortunately, it has received strong support from Nanfang Group. The group provides space, and we operate the space to do a good job in public welfare and charity, conducting skills training in areas such as coffee making, flower arrangement therapy, cultural and sports health, etc. In addition to people with disabilities, the space is also open to ordinary residents and nearby enterprises and institutions, providing a warm place for various activities such as group building, book clubs, intangible cultural heritage experiences, etc. This is also a way for people with disabilities to integrate.
It is understood that there are currently three baristas in the store, all of whom are hearing-impaired. Coffee, fruit tea, etc. are all made by them. They do better than many normal people, "Jia Lun said with a smile. The reporter saw at the scene that there was a handwritten tablet next to the bar, on which the orders ordered by customers were densely recorded. Xiao Chen is the 'senior brother' here, who has won many awards and possesses excellent coffee, fruit, and tea making skills. The other two are a deaf and mute couple. 14 years ago, the federation helped them hold a charity wedding, and volunteers arranged the wedding room and arranged the process for them. Nowadays, the bride Xiaohong stands behind the bar to make coffee and often participates in volunteer service. She said that this is to "give back to society" and repay the warmth that this city gave her back in the past.
At the same time, with the help of PACC, the space has introduced the national intangible cultural heritage Shanghai velvet embroidery, providing a platform for people with disabilities to personally participate in and practice intangible cultural heritage skills. They started learning from scratch here, from the crooked and twisted things embroidered at the beginning, to getting better and better later on. Now they can make bags, notebooks, sachets, and have gained recognition from many customers. The paintings hanging on the wall and the cultural and creative works placed on the shelves are all created by them. We cultivate more skills in them precisely because we consider that many places may not necessarily accept them, and only by mastering one or even a few crafts can they continue to integrate into society. We have been doing this all along. "Every time it is mentioned, Jia Lun sincerely thanks Nanfang Group for providing such a space for the future development of people with disabilities.
According to statistics, more than thirty disabled people have found their own rhythm here, with countless gentle healing moments hidden in every stitch. Some people are skilled in their craft and gradually become teaching assistants after receiving guidance from others. Everyone is watching this change and genuinely happy for them, "Jia Lun said.
Intangible cultural heritage velvet embroidery weaves a small world for people with disabilities to express their emotions, and some sensitive autistic teenagers have gradually opened up their hearts through such repeated threading. In addition, every Saturday, intangible cultural heritage inheritors come to the store to give lectures, and teaching assistants take them hand in hand to experience the charm of velvet embroidery, with warmth quietly flowing here.
It is understood that the space also promotes public welfare to community residents. Customers who come to the store to consume any beverage can participate in free activities such as Happy Reading Club, Eight Section Brocade Yoga, and Intangible Cultural Heritage courses. Jia Lun revealed that in mid July, a "Summer Youth Disability and Health Integration Coffee Experience Camp" will be launched, taught by professional certified deaf baristas, including coffee bean science popularization, American latte making, and coffee latte practice. Zero foundation teenagers aged 13 to 19 will be invited to work as small baristas with deaf and "Star Treasure" partners for three days. We plan to implement small class teaching for 8 students, with 4 normal children only receiving tuition fees. We hope that normal children and disabled teenagers can be together and engage in activities they enjoy, in order to promote the integration of disabled and able-bodied individuals
Nowadays, Nanfeng Nuan Chengyi Space is gradually gaining popularity. Jia Lun still has a thought in his heart, hoping that after the current mode becomes smoother, it can be replicated in other places. There are still many unused spaces in Shanghai, and if conditions permit, we would like to do more for people with disabilities. In her opinion, we hope to not only focus on coffee in the future, but also elevate people with disabilities to a higher level by incorporating intangible cultural heritage skills, and like Xiaohong, go from being helped by society to giving back to society. We have also been selecting talented disabled individuals and showcasing their skills through training. Once they become role models, we can illuminate more disabled individuals and hope that they can become more confident. This is the most important thing, "Jia Lun revealed.
It is reported that many people who have visited the store have become repeat customers. Not for anything else, I just think this silent coffee is very good. Next time you pass by Jiangyin Street, why not come into the store, order a drink, and watch the baristas quietly busy, making this kindness within reach.
Southern Wind Warm City Beneficial Space
Address: 204 Jiangyin Street
Business hours: 10:00-17:00, Monday to Saturday
Reporter/Chen Jiaming
Editor/Huang Qianwen