Youth Cafe in Jincheon: A Community Initiative

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Have you heard of the 'Youth Cafe' located throughout Jincheon County? You might have encountered them at the county office, welfare centers, or libraries. The Youth Cafe is a popular spot known for its convenient locations, affordable prices, and the warm service provided by elderly baristas. Since last year, they have introduced a free eco-friendly deodorizer distribution corner. Have you seen it?

At all Youth Cafe locations in Jincheon County, the 'Jincheon Senior Club Youth Upcycling Project Team' distributes eco-friendly deodorizers for free to those in need. The deodorizer I received last year was shaped like fermented soybean blocks, which was quite fun, and this year, they have added colorful and cute character shapes, making the variety even greater. I keep one in my car, another in the fridge, and hang some in my closet, enjoying the subtle coffee scent they provide.

Recently, I visited the Saenggeo Jincheon Comprehensive Welfare Center, which also has a Youth Cafe on the first floor. Here, the deodorizer made by the Youth Upcycling Project Team was on display. Since this place attracts many elderly visitors, the deodorizer was already sold out when I arrived in the morning, leaving the display empty. I was curious about who makes this popular eco-friendly deodorizer, so I got permission from the staff on the second floor to take a look at the Jincheon Senior Club.

The Jincheon Senior Club is an organization that supports job opportunities for the elderly in Jincheon County, providing various projects to help them engage in social activities and enjoy a healthy retirement. The Youth Upcycling Project is one of the public benefit activities operated by the Jincheon Senior Club. They collect coffee grounds leftover from making coffee at the Youth Cafe, turn them into eco-friendly deodorizers, and distribute the finished products for free to local residents. On the day I visited, the elderly were busy working on this project.

I was curious about how coffee grounds transform into cute deodorizers. The coffee grounds collected from the Youth Cafe are used as raw materials for the deodorizer. To prevent mold, the grounds are dried thoroughly in a dryer. Once dried, they are finely ground and mixed with flour and salt to prepare for the deodorizer. On the day of my visit, they were busy shaping the coffee ground dough, which resembled chocolate rice cakes. They hand-mold each piece into shape, and I noticed that the square ones were the fermented soybean block-shaped deodorizers, now named 'Youth Meju' with unique characters.

On the side, they were making ring-shaped deodorizers. They used molds to shape the dough and inserted recycled can lids to create loops. They collect lids from canned drinks sold at the Youth Cafe for this purpose. I found the idea of repurposing resources, from coffee grounds to can lids, quite commendable.

Once the shapes are completed, they are placed back in the dryer for about 15 hours. After drying, they add strings and finish with coloring to complete the eco-friendly deodorizers. Knowing that each step—from mixing the dough to shaping, drying, stringing, and coloring—was done with care by the elderly made me appreciate even the smallest deodorizer.

The eco-friendly deodorizers made from coffee grounds come in various designs. They are experimenting with different designs, from cute character shapes to those symbolizing Jincheon County, making them suitable as souvenirs.

Recently, they have also created eco-friendly deodorizers that can stand like nameplates, displayed at the Youth Cafe and the county office's civil service center. This product serves dual purposes as a deodorizer and a decorative item, increasing its utility. There is a growing demand for the Youth Upcycling deodorizers, but since the elderly make each one by hand, they have been busier than ever trying to keep up with the demand. Nevertheless, their joy in working together and sharing stories was evident.

Thanks to these cute deodorizers, I was reminded of the importance of resource recycling and the necessity of job opportunities for the elderly. I hope more people can incorporate the eco-friendly deodorizers made from coffee grounds by the Jincheon Senior Club Youth Upcycling Project Team into their daily lives. Our small interest can lead to the reuse of discarded resources and help spread awareness of the products crafted with effort and care by the elderly. I also support the hope that more job opportunities will arise, allowing more seniors to experience the joy and fulfillment of working.

Source :https://blog.naver.com/jincheongun/224451281455

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