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It’s a cultural and creative seen. To exploit the talent of deaf floral employees in LiLi were new to the do-
designers, LiLi could be a flower shop.
main of coffee. While Lily spent a great
coffee shop, a public To display the drawings of deaf paint- deal of time to help them acquire
welfare base, and an ers, LiLi could be a gallery. To realize professional skills, she was also very
the dream of the elderly in pursuit of
concerned about their thoughts of
enterprise that incubates music, LiLi could be a music workshop. future career so as to help them find
their suitable career path. “For me, one
Last year, LiLi Time became No. 5693
entrepreneurship and public welfare base in Shanghai, and of the primary values is happiness. It
means a lot to me that their confi-
conducted 109 public service courses
employment for the deaf. during 70 days. It keeps organizing dence is built up and they themselves
events in the coffee shop, in conjunc-
shine in this space.”
tion with NGOs, charity organizations, Perhaps love is mutual to LiLi Time.
entrepreneurs, and artists, at which Like most restaurants, LiLi was badly af-
people can get together and participate fected during the explosion of COVID-19
in activities and discussions. The staff and nearly had to shut down. What Lily did
members even invite customers to join not expect was that when she initiated a
them and do charity works in local letter for help, those customers who had
communities. In this way, in addition patronized her café helped tide her over by
to providing greater opportunities purchasing products and donating money.
for those who are deaf or hearing Thanks to the people that LiLi loved, they
impaired, the café has also created a made it survive and reborn.
community where people with sim- LiLi Time is a positive step to-
ilar experiences and people of all back- wards teaching the society the signifi-
grounds to interact, share ideas and cance of inclusiveness and equality. It
learn from one another. is a good example that a female entrepreneur
At the café, not only customers are customers to leave a message on the back “My role in LiLi Time is actually a in China is making a difference by her
encouraged to communicate using a few of the card to inspire the deaf staff. Grad- parent, taking care of every employee like faith and resources. “We wish to be a
easy-to-follow hand gestures, but deaf ually, both the guests and staff members a mother.” Lily explained, “we are not light in this city, to influence more
baristas are also encouraged to commu- became more comfortable, and any initial only offering a job position, but accom- people and enterprises, and to pass on
nicate with the guests bravely, even if it fear of a communication barrier was panying them in their lives.” Most deaf love and warmth.”
is just an eye contact or a sentence that dissipated.
is not clear enough. Moreover, baristas “I want to tell my staff members,”
are encouraged to create their own sig- said Lily, “don’t be afraid. Believe you
nature drinks. Se qin sy lhok, created by are accepted. Believe you are loved.
deaf barista Ken, well combines avocado And believe in yourselves that you are
and coffee and presents a silky mouth- excellent!”
feel, which can be found in LiLi’s creative
coffee menu. A Borderless Space Shines
Lily recalled how difficult it some- Light on Dreams
times was to communicate with custom-
ers. There was a time when a lady came Once a new guest asks about what
to LiLi she would be given a flower as a LiLi Time is, Lily always answers: a cul-
warm gift. An unpleasant truth was the tural and creative coffee shop, a public
guests might refuse the waiter since he welfare base, and an enterprise that in-
cannot hear and thus was mistaken for cubates entrepreneurship and employ-
selling flowers. And the inadvertent look ment for the deaf.
may upset the deaf employees. To pass More than a business, LiLi Time has
the goodwill to customers in a better way, been helping to bridge the gap between
Lily designed a card which introduced a mute world and a world with sound. It
the story of flowers and also allowed serves as a stage where dreams can be

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