April 20 is the Day of People with Disabilities. In Korea, this day was designated and observed since 1981. It inherits the spirit of “Rehabilitation Day,” which had been celebrated by private organizations since the 1970s. It was established for a deeper understanding of people with disabilities and to empower their rehabilitation. While social awareness and systems have improved significantly since the1980s, there is still a considerable gap to be filled compared to developed countries. In celebration of the Day of People with Disabilities, let’s explore the career activities of our neighbors with disabilities this week.
Watch Happy Bakery & Cafe video
Happy Bakery & Cafe cultivates the dreams and hopes of people with developmental disabilities
Happy Bakery & Cafe is a job support project operated by the SPC Happy Foundation and the Purme Foundation, a nonprofit organization that assists the rehabilitation and self-reliance of people with disabilities. Here, baristas with and without developmental disabilities serve guests and make drinks together. We support people with developmental disabilities to live confidently as professionals with technical skills. But these days, with the influence of COVID-19 overtaking the country, they are also experiencing tough times. In response, they began producing and selling premium blended drip bags coffee for customers to enjoy at home. On April 7, the online store “Happy Turtle Coffee N” opened on Naver Smart Store during the week for people with disabilities, allowing even more accessibility.
Staff working at Happy Bakery & Cafe
SPC Group’s efforts to help the independence of people with developmental disabilities go beyond providing vocational education. It includes various means of support, such as ensuring workplaces and seeking alternative approaches under challenging times. To develop the drip bags, experts from the Paris Croissant coffee team provided their expert advice. We also went beyond trying to capture the tastes of consumers to embody the value of supporting the dreams of people with disabilities. SPC Magazine visited Happy Bakery & Cafe at the Sangam and Jongno branches to bring you the dynamic report of the happy workplace and met with the experts who provide support.
Tasting the drip bag coffee
Interview with General Manager Han Gyu-cheol, Coffee and Beverage Development Team, Paris Croissant
Q. How did you come to advise Happy Bakery & Cafe?
Nice to meet you. I’m General Manager Han Gyu-cheol from the Coffee and Beverage Development Team at Paris Croissant. I am working for 14 years now, focusing on developing coffee. Since a few years ago, I have been participating in barista competitions and training as a judge and an instructor. That’s when my relations began with Happy Bakery & Cafe. I heard the Jongno branch is launching drip bags this time, so I joined to help them with my experience. While advising, I was concerned about the quality, taste, and aroma of the coffee, as well as hygiene management.
Experts’ Advice to Create High-Quality Drip Bags
Q. When did it feel most rewarding during your advice to Happy Bakery & Cafe?
It feels rewarding whenever I see the staff I met during SPC Group’s barista competitions for people with disabilities continue to work hard at Happy Cafe & Bakery with passion. Another staff who trained with me when I taught baristas is also working there, and I’m so proud whenever I greet the face.
Interview of Barista Im Su-min at Happy Bakery & Cafe
Q. What is your job at the store?
Nice to meet you. I’m Barista Im Su-min. I’ve been working at the Sangam branch of Happy Bakery & Cafe for three years. At the store, I make beverages ordered by customers. I do everything else that is necessary at the cafe, such as cleaning and washing dishes. I make the best smoothies. Our store sells plain, strawberry, blueberry, and mango-flavored yogurt smoothies, which are refreshing and delicious. Come and visit us in the coming summer!
Making beverages and managing the store
Q. Why did you become a barista, and what’s your dream goal?
This was what I’ve been dreaming of since middle school. I loved the aroma of coffee beans. I had the opportunity to receive coffee training from the SPC Group. That’s when I learned about coffee properly, and now I am working at Happy Bakery & Cafe. My dream is to be a barista who is good at latte art like the other staff working with me. I’m practicing how to make a latte because it requires delicate control.
Interview with Assistant Manager Go Hyeon-ju
Q. What is the role of the SPC Group and the Purme Foundation?
Nice to meet you. I’m Assistant Manager Go Hyeon-ju in Corporate Social Responsibility at SPC’s Happy Foundation. Happy Bakery & Cafe is operated by the SPC Group and the Purme Foundation. The Purme Foundation is responsible for supporting people with disabilities and managing cafes. The SPC Group is responsible for the overall support and training for the opening and operation of cafes. We are applying our know-how accumulated from decades of running bakeries and cafes to foster people with developmental disabilities to become self-reliant members of society.
Overview of Purme Foundation Nexon Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital
Q. Please introduce Happy Bakery & Cafe.
Here, we provide job support for people with developmental disabilities to live confidently as skilled professionals. At the cafe, people with and without disabilities work together. It may not be a familiar sight yet, but I hope we can reconsider our views during the week for the people with disabilities and change our society over time. Please visit Happy Bakery & Cafe to support the independence of people with disabilities. Thank you.
It was very memorable how various groups of people gathered in a cafe to help each other realize their dreams. Instead of viewing people with disabilities obscurely as those who need help, they work hard to help them become self-reliant in society with expertise. Perhaps this demonstrates the direction for our community to move forward. This week, in commemoration of the people with disabilities, how about we reflect together on living in harmony with one another?
