Walking to the Mustard Seed Mission's "Vocational Training Center" in Xincheng Village, Hualien, you can see the large grass field and the two sides of trees in line, like a big park. The elderly indeed views it as their backyard garden, relaxing to have a walk by two to three or by wheelchairs. "Do you have a cafe here? "A visitor suddenly asked, "Yes, we have one!"
When you push the door, you can see a spacious spaces made up of two classrooms and a cozy café in front. The Café has a name-"Dream House Café". What is the dream? The Deputy Director of the Mustard Seed Mission, Ms. Wu Ya-qin, in charge of the affairs in Hualien and Taitung areas, said, "We want to create a job-friendly 'similar workplace' for the sliver-haired people here, and we also want to create an interactive space for the exchange of the elderly people with the youth and children."

"Silver-haired Greeters" at the Dream House Café Create a Wonderful Life After Retirement
Ms. Wu pointed a draw on the wall and expressed that is one of the craftworks between the silver-haired and youth. Through discussing the memories in the past and the expectation in the future of the community, 33 participates co-create three "Flow Paintings" represent the past, now, and the future of the community. Last year, she also invited elderly carpenters to build up a unique hand-made vender stall car, reflecting the harmonious atmosphere of the community residents.
The "similar workplace" is an interesting program. So far, the café employs 4 elderly employees over the age of 65. They just graduated from a two-month Barista training course in, subsidized by the Multi-Employment Promotion Program (MEPP) of the Ministry of Labor (MOL). Those trained elderly women scratched from learning how to select, roast, grind beans, and hand-brew a cup of coffee. They also learn how to operate a coffee machine and practice service SOPs. Afterwards, the so-called "Community Silver-haired Greeters" will take charge of everything in the café and officially return to the workplace.
In fact, the Mustard Seed Mission has been serving the middle-aged and elderly for 20 years. Excepting nursing and day care centers, it also encourages the elderly to create a fulfilling new retirement life through "Active Ageing" and "Value reinstatement and reconstruction" perspectives. Therefore, it launched the "50+ Elderly Empowerment Program" to encourage the elderly to return to the workforce market and social service places.

Creating A Friendly Working Environment for the Elderly
Although having long-term experience in accompanying the elderly, the vocational training center still carefully researched and designed the aging employment environment. For example, it conducted a focused interview that invited 7 elderly people to understand their characteristics, thoughts, expectations, and worries of the re-employed. It also collected their feedback toward the environment and the traffic flow; It even considered that elderly people might be too shy to present themselves in front of people, so it designed a "Collage Event" for them to share their inner thoughts by creating. Through those efforts, the term of the Mission found the elderly people focus on a joyful communication atmosphere, worry they might not keep up the work in their physical strength and learning ability, and lack confidence in actively communicating with the café guests. 
The team learned about those elderly through the preserve and post questionnaires and work observations to create the friendliest work environment for them. They also visited three senior employment cafes around the country to learn about their experience and try to open those Silver-haired Greeters' workplace imagination and personal careers.
The launch of the Dream House Café has multiple purposes. On a personal level, the elderly people can learn a second specialized skill, change the traditional retirement concepts, and raise their self-worth through service and financial independence. On the other hand, it can slow down the aging process and reduce the risk of long-term care and dementia. On the social level, the Dream House Café can be an interactive venue for the community residents to cohesion and connect.

Part-time Job and Accommodation Exchange "Senior Age Only"!
When talking about "Work Exchange", people usually think of young people only. But in the Vocational Training Center, it is "Senior Age Only"! That is the "50+ Elderly Work Exchange Program" by the Empowering Employment Program (EEP). After applying for the program, the elderly can do a 2-weeks work exchange for accommodation. They only need to work 4 hours a day for environmental maintenance, housekeeping, restaurant dining service, bakery production and packaging, farm operations, and community services. They can also provide professional skills and share them in a class. For the rest of their time, they are free for outside activities, making friends, and expanding their social circles.

In fact, the Mustard Seed Mission is the first registered social welfare organization in Taiwan which was established in 1952. It established the Hualien Vocational Training Center in Beipu Village and set up a Free Vocational School to train the indigenous working skills. 
In 2022, the Mustard Seed Mission's Elderly Empowerment Program has counseled 1,687 people and provided 126 internships. The number of elderly people who came to the Work Exchange Program was 18 and some of them came with friends from different cities. For these elderly people, it was a new experience to get out of their comfort zone and practice for returning to the workplace. For the elderly care and nursing service, it has counseled 110 elderly and accumulated 9,687 people.
"A mustard seed is smaller than sand, but with proper nurturing, it can grow into a big tree and benefit all." Ms. Wu explains all the products and services provided by the vocational training center with a vision of creating more job opportunities. In the center, people in need can learn skills and earn wages through their skills to become self-reliant. Now, through the Dream House Café, she hopes to create more job opportunities and become a social center of the community.
The Mustard Seed Mission-Official Website
 

▲The team of Hualien Vocational Training Center, led by Ms. Wu Ya-qin (who wears a green dress in the center), is energized with three generations of members working together.

▲"With a cup of coffee to support senior employment, an intergenerational team supports the Dream House Café to create solutions for the community," is the vision of Mr. Wu Ya-qin, the Deputy Director of Hualien Mustard Seed Mission. (Photo by Lin Ying-cheng)

▲The Warmly decorated Dream House Café has become a social place for elders in the village.

▲The 4 middle-aged and elderly employees hired by Dream House Café can make both hand-made and espresso coffee. (Photo by Hualien Mustard Seed Mission)

▲Mustard Seed Mission sets up alleyway care stations to organize a variety of physical and mental activities for the elderly. The picture shows a trained dog interacting with the elderly to stimulate their mobility.

▲ The herbal tea products are made from the herbs that are planted by the elderly people who live in the Day Care Center and create the brand "Seed Tea". (Photo by Lin Ying-cheng)
 

Case Story: Multi-Employment Promotion and Empowering Employment Program
Interviewee: Hualien Mustard Seed Mission