[Cat Cafe Pet Professional Training Creates Opportunities for Grassroots Youth Amidst the Cat Economy]

The pet economy has captured market attention, with pet owners willing to spend generously on their beloved companions and expecting higher quality products. "Block Cat," a shared cat space in Tsuen Wan, has recognized both a business opportunity and a chance to promote animal welfare. "We want everyone to understand the basic knowledge of how to treat cats well, because only then can this economy truly thrive," they said. Their education begins with team training, and they are committed to expanding career opportunities for youth living in subdivided flats, embodying the name of their first social innovation project – "Spoil You."

—— Repeatedly applied for social innovation funding, persevering through multiple rejections
Before this project, they had applied twice to the MakerBay Social Innovation Lab but were rejected both times. "At the time, we proposed projects that used cats to address emotional well-being, but perhaps due to my lack of experience, I couldn't convince the judges of the project's sustainability." The Social Innovation Lab is funded by the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund, a policy under the Commission on Poverty. Silas, the person in charge of "Block Cat," believes they need to reflect on how their projects cater to the fund's beneficiaries. "For many years, our customers have mostly been between 20 and 30 years old, and many have asked if we would hire part-time staff. It turns out that young people are interested in this industry." Indeed, youth unemployment has risen after the pandemic. "Besides possibly credential inflation, could we have other avenues? For example, creating employment opportunities through the pet economy."

—— Providing five types of pet training for youth in subdivided flats
Following the judges' advice, Silas applied for "Spoil You" a third time and was successfully selected as a training project. The project offers five training courses for youth in subdivided flats: cat behavior, pet photography, pet crafts, pet grooming, and marketing skills. Afterwards, internships are arranged at pet exhibitions, elderly centers, and related shops based on the participants' interests. Silas said that participants are most interested in selling handicrafts and cat behavior training: "Participants will engage in academic discussions, sometimes dispelling public myths about pets, increasing their understanding of the industry and animals."

—— Frequent absence from a participant leads to a treasured employee
Unpredictable cats require an objective perspective, and so do confused young people. One participant initially often missed sessions at the last minute. Silas thought she wanted to quit, but after a detailed conversation, learned that she was very interested in cats but felt frustrated because she was not fluent in Cantonese. With extra explanations and assistance, this participant not only successfully completed her internship but was also hired by "Block Cat" due to her outstanding performance. "I thought she would just leave after the class, but she not only endured the heavy work but was also very dedicated. We rarely hired teenagers in the past, but she really surprised us."

—— Still determined to use cats for emotional care
The team's spirit of persistent effort runs through the project. Silas often tells participants, "We allow attempts or failures; we have nothing to lose." As young people learn how to love cats, the encounters that happen because of cats also remind them that they are loved. Silas hopes to continue creating jobs and providing more practical opportunities for participants, including returning to the original intention of launching social innovation projects that focus on and care for emotional well-being through cats: "We really want everyone to know that cats are very kind creatures. If people know how to interact with them, humans and pets can coexist very well."

Interviewee | "Spoil You - Employment Support Program for Youth in Subdivided Flats", a social innovation project from the fifth round of the program.
Written by | Vicky Ho
Edited by | Social Innovation Lab