‘Care and Cup’s Society’ is a group of six young people who took on the KEY+ Challenge recently and chose to host a pop-up café at a residential home called ‘Little Sisters of the Poor.’ Their goal? To bridge the gap between generations, share stories, and bring some warmth to the residents’ day with good company and great conversation.
For some of the group, this was their first time visiting a residential home, making it a brand-new experience. When asked about what inspired them to take on the project, they said: “We wanted to visit ‘The Little Sisters of The Poor’ as we wanted to do something to show our appreciation for those who shaped our generation as we feel that they are not given enough recognition. We wanted to spend time talking to the residents to get to know their individual stories.”
During the project, the group developed a lot of essential life skills including:
- Teamwork: making sure everyone had a role in setting up, serving and socialising
- Communication: chatting with residents, listening to their stories, and sharing their own experiences
- Problem-solving: thinking of their feet when things didn’t go exactly to plan
- Confidence-building: interacting with new people and dealing with people in authority
The group told The Key that they “feel more confident in using these skills in the future and better prepared for attending university.”
When asked about their favourite part of the project, they said: “talking to the residents and hearing about their life experiences including their career paths. We also really enjoyed introducing the residents to games that we enjoy and liked how it was fun for both age groups.”
The project wasn’t just about learning – it was deeply emotional and eye-opening.
The group reflected: “this experience was heartwarming; it made us more aware and grateful. We should always appreciate life, family and friends and never take anything for granted. We also felt emotional hearing about some of the conditions the residents have been diagnosed with.”
"We were proud that we were able to represent our community rightfully. Everything went well and better than anticipated. We were also proud that we overcame any challenges, and we learn that everything won’t always go exactly as planned but to accept that and overcome any obstacles.”
Care and Cup’s Society offered some advice to other young people thinking about doing KEY+: “we would encourage them to go for it and do something you really care about and are passionate about, use this opportunity to go out of your comfort zone.”
This project wasn’t just about giving back – it was about growth, connection, and making a real impact. And they absolutely smashed it!
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The Key