Social Dimension Singapore

Tea Talk Café: A Social Enterprise in Hanoi, Vietnam

by Dr Ng Guat Tin

 

Tea Talk Café, is a social enterprise, initiated by Michael Ong, an alumni of the National University of Singapore and Washington University in St Louis, USA. He worked for a number of years as a social worker in Singapore before migrating to Hanoi to volunteer as a social work lecturer in the University of Labour and Social Affairs in 2001. When studying for his Master of Social work in America, he worked on an assignment for a social entrepreneur course and was challenged by it to develop a cozy café in Hanoi[1], where café staff and customers can express their soul, over cups of coffee.

Social enterprises that aim to provide employment for more vulnerable groups usually target older persons, people with disabilities, youth, women or the poor. Tea Talk Café is a social enterprise with a difference. It creates employment opportunities for young social workers in Hanoi, where availability of social work jobs is limited, despite the immense social needs. The vision of the Café management is that the customers and staff who pass through the doors of the Café can be transformed by their experiences and in turn, make an impact on their families, communities, future generations, and that some would use their encounters with Tea Talk to influence other cities and villages in Vietnam, and to neighbouring and faraway countries.

Read on for an interview with Michael Ong, conducted by Dr Ng Guat Tin, on 17 November 2014, at Tea Talk Café, Hanoi[2], Vietnam. The Café opened in 2012 and is managed by two Vietnamese, with Michael providing consultancy to them. As the Café focused on the food business it set up CoRE (Centre for Counseling, Research and Empowering Community) as a NGO to provide social services targeting young people, especially those with mental health, pre-marital, marital and family issues. Most of the CoRE Community activities are sponsored by and conducted at the Café[3], which becomes a hub for building up a community.

An Idiot's Call to REACH OUT!

Social Dimension catches up with the inspirational Dr Timothy Sim for his expert advice on Social Work Development in Singapore.

Social Dimension: During your visits to Singapore for the various symposiums and workshops you conducted, you have been vocal in speaking out about how Social Workers in Singapore may have strayed from their true calling.

In your view, what are your thoughts about the true calling and mission of Social Workers in Singapore?

Dr Timothy Sim: You must watch the movie “3 Idiots”! I believe it answers the key question you asked. In a nutshell, we need to be passionate about what we do and reflect on the meaning of success.  What is the reason for becoming who we are and doing what we do? I think an outstanding social worker has that “idiot’s” passion to be different and to make a difference. I cried buckets watching this movie. You watch it and tell me if it does anything to you?