Kunming's cafe percolates a difference

KUNMING — Not long ago, Duoduo could not bear the hustle and bustle of city living for any length of time. For the 24-year-old man with autism, even the slightest noise would leave him feeling restless.

Today, he has acclimated to the urban soundscape and transitioned into a skilled barista, adept in the craft of creating lattes at Chuxing Cafe in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province.

Owned and managed by Fu Xin, the cafe employs people with autism, among them, Duoduo.

"The cafe is a window to understanding and acceptance," Fu says.

"When employees engage with customers, be it through language or gestures, a heartfelt connection is forged."

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by varying degrees of impairment to communication skills and social interaction. Children with autism are sometimes called "children of the stars" in China, as society often perceives them as lonely, and they can exhibit unconventional emotional reactions, language ability, or social skills.

A report on autism education showed that in 2019, there were more than 10 million people with an autism spectrum disorder in China, among whom 2 million were children aged under 12.

Diagnosed with autism when he was little, Duoduo experienced difficulty with language during his early years.

Li Aiping, his mother, worried about his future and tried to find work for him to do, but encountered obstacles. "If Duoduo remained at home, his condition would only get worse," she says.

An employment notice in 2021 gave her hope. Chuxing Cafe was offering free training and job opportunities to people with autism. Feeling nervous yet hopeful, Li took her son to the cafe.

At first, Duoduo didn't like the sound of the coffee machine releasing steam and was nervous each time he started it up. With the support of his mother and Fu, he adapted and fell in love with making coffee.

Duoduo is now a coffee master. With gentle flicks of his wrist, he makes a "Z" shape on the surface of the coffee with milk foam, slowly forming a heart shape.

After finishing, he serves the steaming cup to his customer and returns to the workbench to wipe away stains.

Fu says that some of the cafe's regulars say they are moved that her cafe fulfills the dreams of the "children of the stars".

The idea for the cafe stemmed from Fu's encounter with a child with autism several years ago, which led her to see the possibility of social improvement through interaction.