Retired seniors find new purpose in community cafe in E China's Zhejiang

Senior volunteers chat with each other outside a community cafe in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 7, 2026. Converted from a community reading room, the cafe is run by a team of more than 20 volunteers, with an average age of over 70. Trained as baristas, the seniors serve coffee to local residents. The cafe provides older people with opportunities to stay socially active while offering a welcoming space for community interaction. (Xinhua/Cheng Li)

Shao Juling (L), aged 80, and He Yadi, aged 73, present coffee they made at a community cafe in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 7, 2026. Converted from a community reading room, the cafe is run by a team of more than 20 volunteers, with an average age of over 70. Trained as baristas, the seniors serve coffee to local residents. The cafe provides older people with opportunities to stay socially active while offering a welcoming space for community interaction. (Xinhua/Cheng Li)

Senior volunteers view orders at a community cafe in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 7, 2026. Converted from a community reading room, the cafe is run by a team of more than 20 volunteers, with an average age of over 70. Trained as baristas, the seniors serve coffee to local residents. The cafe provides older people with opportunities to stay socially active while offering a welcoming space for community interaction. (Xinhua/Cheng Li)

Senior volunteers pose for a group photo at a community cafe in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 7, 2026. Converted from a community reading room, the cafe is run by a team of more than 20 volunteers, with an average age of over 70. Trained as baristas, the seniors serve coffee to local residents. The cafe provides older people with opportunities to stay socially active while offering a welcoming space for community interaction. (Xinhua/Cheng Li)

This photo taken on Nov. 7, 2026. shows a community cafe in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province. Converted from a community reading room, the cafe is run by a team of more than 20 volunteers, with an average age of over 70. Trained as baristas, the seniors serve coffee to local residents. The cafe provides older people with opportunities to stay socially active while offering a welcoming space for community interaction. (Xinhua/Cheng Li)

Senior volunteers make coffee at a community cafe in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 7, 2026. Converted from a community reading room, the cafe is run by a team of more than 20 volunteers, with an average age of over 70. Trained as baristas, the seniors serve coffee to local residents. The cafe provides older people with opportunities to stay socially active while offering a welcoming space for community interaction. (Xinhua/Cheng Li)

A senior volunteer takes order at a community cafe in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 7, 2026. Converted from a community reading room, the cafe is run by a team of more than 20 volunteers, with an average age of over 70. Trained as baristas, the seniors serve coffee to local residents. The cafe provides older people with opportunities to stay socially active while offering a welcoming space for community interaction. (Xinhua/Cheng Li)