Interview by Rui Pastorin
A cha chaan teng (tea restaurant) called “Dream Sexagenarian Restaurant of the Macau Special Olympics” quietly sits on Rua de Inácio Baptista (鵝眉街).
A non-profit social service launched in 2022 by the Macau Special Olympics (MSO), the establishment is one of the few restaurants* that mainly employs seniors. It serves various local dishes, along with daily lunch sets such as those prepared according to the Chinese 24-Solar terms** (二十四節氣). Even catering and party options, including barbecue, are also available.
The initiative’s main goal? To provide a platform for seniors to show their employability to the community, along with promoting re-employment.
The seniors working at the establishment are aged over 60 and are mainly parents of and often times were also primary caretakers of MSO’s service users early on in their lives, Store Manager Shirley Ho (何寶怡) told the Post in an interview at the restaurant yesterday afternoon.
A chance to join or re-join the workforce is therefore emphasised. Ho pointed out that as MSO service users, who have intellectual disabilities, may need extra care, their parents might not have had time to work or garner much work experience over the years, or find it difficult to secure a job due to their age. Ho highlighted that working there not only allows seniors to earn extra income, but also enables them to experience a sense of self-respect and recognition, along with more self-satisfaction financially and mentally.
The staff take on roles such as working the cash desk, waiting tables, cooking and cleaning, all the while having the opportunity to warmly interact with customers. “I think they’re pretty friendly. I like working with them. They’re nice people to work with and talk to”, Ho said.
However, it has not been without its challenges. Due to Macau’s current economic issues, a shift with a preference for ordering food online, along with a competitive environment prevailing in the neighbourhood, business has been slow, even in the beginning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With expenses to pay, Ho admitted that times were tough. “It’s hard to strike a balance throughout all these years”, but she added that they may not be the only ones struggling, highlighting that most restaurants might also be having a hard time. But she noted: “It would be nice if we had more customers, actually. But it’s kind of hard now”, highlighting a need for support and visibility.
Still, Ho said that they are continuing to push on while also highlighting what they can offer, including their dishes, catering and party takeaway menus. But beyond that is a warm, friendly service in a place where everyone is “just like family”, Ho said, noting that this remains important in the modern world where people may not even need to speak to a server to order their meal.
Highlighting their capabilities and performance, Ho stressed that neither should civil society discriminate against ageing employees and seniors in the workforce. “They’re still good in the workforce and they’re still enjoying it”, highlighting examples of other countries like Japan or South Korea where seniors still continue to work. She also pointed out that in ageing societies, more problems could arise if there are no jobs for them.
Moreover, by dining at the establishment, Ho also noted that it was a “win-win” situation for both the customer and the elderly staff. “Because the customers, they like the elders serving them. They have more opportunities to know them better and to know that they’re in need…They can also have a good meal while also helping them get a job to have a more stable income”.
As time goes on, Ho said that they hope to send the message to civil society that the seniors can still be a part of the workforce. “They need more jobs. They can still work, they have the ability to work”, she said, hoping that more restaurants or other enterprises would also hire seniors and recognise their capabilities.
* Another example is “Delightful Kitchen” by Caritas Macau on Rua Nova à Guia, with more on https://www.macaupostdaily.com/news/12921
** The 24 Solar Terms are a traditional Chinese calendar system that splits the year into 24 parts. Each part follows seasonal changes in weather, temperature, and farming cycles. Food changes with the shift to match what the body needs and what’s freshest. - Poe
Dream Sexagenarian Restaurant Store Manager Shirley Ho (right) poses with a staff member surnamed Sou in the restaurant on Rua de Inácio Baptista (鵝眉街).
This photo shows the exterior of the Dream Sexagenarian Restaurant. – Photos: Rui Pastorin
