Very Old School: in a Prague Coffee Shop, Coffee and Delicacies are Made Exclusively by the Elderly
In Prague's Smíchov district, the 'Old School Café' employs only senior citizens. Similar to any other café, they offer coffee, pastries, and other treats prepared by elderly workers, as reported by Rádio Praha.
"I've been working here for a month and a half and come in once a week, every Tuesday. Today's menu includes classic yeast doughnuts, cheesecakes with toppings, and we also made a bubble cake—a pie with fruit filling. We also make about three to four varieties of savoury sandwiches," says Yana, who works in the kitchen.
The 'Old School Café' is a social project initiated by the non-profit organization Elpida, inspired by a similar format already operating in Vienna. The café's earnings go towards funding other organization events aimed at supporting the elderly. The name "Old School" has a dual meaning, signifying both the senior workers and the café's location in one of Prague's oldest municipal schools.
"By selling the products made here, we support the functioning of our senior centre in Smíchov. The funds go into the budget and are used to pay for other events for older people. Some events are free, some are subsidized. Of course, the main goal of this social enterprise is to make the people working here feel good and fulfilled," explains project manager Bronislava Khilyeva.
Currently, the café employs six baristas and five bakers. Organizers invite other elderly individuals to join the project, promising to train those without prior experience in similar establishments.
As reported by The Gaze, approximately 77% of the 339,000 Ukrainian refugees with temporary protection in the Czech Republic are economically active (not students or pensioners), with 69% (over 180,000 individuals) having permanent employment.
It is noted that the majority of those who fled Ukraine to the Czech Republic due to the Russian invasion are women. Many of them have a high level of education and were able to find employment after arriving in the Czech Republic. However, according to IOM experts, ensuring stable employment remains a challenge, especially for single mothers, individuals over 60 years old, or those with health issues.