What Is the Happy Bakery & Cafe?
The Happy Bakery & Cafe is a bakery franchise that helps a neglected class of people by hiring baristas and workers who have developmental disabilities. The purpose of this employment is to avoid simple labor and to create an environment where those workers directly give service to customers. There are four Happy Bakery & Cafes in Seoul at the moment. The first bakery opened in September 2012 on the first floor of Purme Center in Jongno, Seoul. There are five baristas who work at the first bakery and they were trained by former baristas. Sales of the bakery are completely in the hands of those workers. Therefore, they learn how to communicate with people and give services to customers. The Happy Bakery & Cafe has diverse aspects such as its beginning, roles, and future goals; those are unique from other brands.
The Meaningful Start of the Happiest Bakery
The Happy Bakery & Cafe Desires Independence and a Good Future
Independence is the key factor to pay attention when people visit the Happy Bakery & Cafe. It is possible to see that the motive of running the bakery is to give fair opportunities for disabled people who desire to work at bakeries. Some people who have mental disabilities are treated unfairly in some work places. Even though he or she has a job at a bakery or coffee shop, it is more likely that they will have to do simple labor such as cleaning the floor and washing dishes. Unreasonable treatment forces them to quit their jobs no matter how much of an effort they make. The Happy Bakery & Cafe supports what their workers truly want to do. “A career is not only for earning money, but it is also rewarding processes in the individuals’ lives. It applies to all individuals,” says Han Sang-kyu, who is the team leader of the business planning of the Purme Foundation. When the bakery first opened its doors, people held prejudices and they were pessimistic about the bakery. However, employees showed possibilities and outcomes by doing what they could do because that was the best way to overcome the problem. As they longed for the dream, they have never given up. The profits of the bakery, the fruits of their labors, are used for rehabilitation. From the beginning to the present, the Happy Bakery & Cafe has been striving to help people. Thus, there is no doubt in saying that the Happy Bakery & Cafe is achieving their goals step by step.
The Happy Bakery & Cafe is advancing toward future goals. One of the aims is the self-sustainable growth of the bakery. Even though there is a manager and sub-manager who are in charge of the administration of the bakery; workers handle all the other duties such as decorating, taking orders, making drinks, and cleaning. Consequently, the workers can be self-reliant and change community sentiment by challenging themselves and not relying on other people. It is not only providing jobs to disabled people; the Happy Bakery & Cafe helps them to stand on their own and be proud of their accomplishments.
Furthermore, opening further Happy Bakery & Cafes is another objective. Recently, the fourth Happy Bakery & Cafe started in Eunpyeong, Seoul. The SPC Group is planning to open more Happy Bakery & Cafes by cooperating with Seoul, the Purme Foundation, and Soul Bakery. It is impracticable to hire all applicants who want to work at the bakery; however, they try to make the maximum amount of effort to give chances to people. More to the point, the bakeries increase competiveness as the SPC Group gives them a lot of know-how about goods and services. It is the dream of the workers at the first Happy Bakery & Cafe to become president of the hundredth Happy Bakery & Cafe. Organizations and members are moving forward to achieve this dream.
The Happy Bakery & Cafe Sells Hope to Society
their best. The Happy Bakery & Cafe delivers several meanings to society that became more separated than ever. It is a place where some people can use their talents and have reasonable opportunities. The bakery also has neighborly relations between people by sharing their gains. More people should be aware of projects like the Happy Bakery & Cafe and the good they do in our communities.
By Baek Jin CP Reporter jinny524@cnu.ac.kr