Across China: Dumpling restaurant serves up success for workers with Down syndrome

Hong Bo (R) shows the way to cook to Zhang Fan, an employee with Down syndrome, at Xiaoboyaohong dumpling restaurant in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 6, 2024. (Xinhua)

HOHHOT, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- On a bustling street in Hohhot, Xiaoboyaohong might seem like just another trendy dumpling restaurant, with its glass windows, modern furniture and the familiar sight of steam rising from a busy kitchen.

But one thing sets it apart from its neighbors: half of the staff have Down syndrome.

A genetic condition that causes intellectual disabilities, Down syndrome occurs when a person is born with an extra chromosome. In China, there are approximately 12 million individuals with intellectual disabilities, some of whom have Down syndrome.

This group has long faced limited employment opportunities due to their developmental challenges. However, Xiaoboyaohong dumpling restaurant offers a different story.

Founded by Hong Bo in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the restaurant employs staff ranging in age from their 20s to their 40s, who work as cashiers, cleaners and chefs, all performing their duties with the same dedication and skill as anyone else.

A TASTE OF LOVE

Hong's journey toward helping people with Down syndrome began at a special birthday party for the son of his friend Bai Ye. The boy and his friends, all of whom had Down syndrome, impressed Hong with their ability to carry out simple tasks.

"My friend told me that individuals with intellectual disabilities need more opportunities to integrate into society. However, the job opportunities available to them are limited," he said.

Hong's empathy was also shaped by personal experience. He had lost his vision for eight months due to diabetic complications and only regained it after treatment. This challenge made him deeply aware of the struggles faced by people with disabilities, prompting him to take action.

Drawing on his background in running an agricultural business, Hong opened Xiaoboyaohong dumpling restaurant on Dec. 22 last year, coinciding with the Winter Solstice, a day when dumplings are traditionally eaten in northern China.

He designed a training program for employees with Down syndrome, covering everything from greeting customers to cooking dumplings. The process, however, was far from easy. For his employees, mastering each step required not just patience but hundreds, if not thousands, of repetitions.

Now his restaurant is home to four people with Down syndrome.

Hong's goal goes beyond simply providing jobs; he aims to help his staff grow into the best versions of themselves, finding both their place in society and a sense of fulfillment in the workplace.

When 23-year-old Zhang Fan, an employee with Down syndrome, first joined the restaurant, he was shy and reserved, rarely speaking to anyone. Today, he is outgoing, greeting customers as they enter and bidding them farewell as they leave.

"I love my job. It's like being a little bee collecting nectar -- work hard, don't slack off, and you'll do it right," Zhang said.

Chen Hao, another employee, had a natural interest in math but struggled to count to 20 when he started. After months of patient training, he has transformed into a skilled cashier.

"Rehabilitation for people with Down syndrome is a lifelong process," said Bai Ye, honorary chairwoman of the association for people with intellectual disabilities and their families in Inner Mongolia. "Every task they complete, whether it's taking an order or interacting with customers, helps improve their abilities."

THE ROAD AHEAD

Inspired by Hong's initiative, Chen Weidong, a newcomer to the Down syndrome community, decided to open a Xiaoboyaohong branch in the city of Huairen, Shanxi Province, over 200 kilometers from Hohhot.

"I was moved by videos of Hong's restaurant shared by my aunt who is a regular customer there," Chen told Xinhua.

He has already recruited two staff members, one 30 years old and the other 18, both of whom are working for the first time. Once the restaurant officially opens, he plans to hire three or four more.

Xiaoboyaohong now boasts seven franchised branches, and the program has trained 79 individuals with Down syndrome, 34 of whom have secured permanent employment at various dumpling houses.

This initiative reflects a broader effort in China to support individuals with Down syndrome, beginning even before birth.

China has made significant progress in reducing birth defects, including Down syndrome, through a combination of prenatal screening, folic acid supplementation and public health education.

The incidence of severe birth defects, including neural tube defects and Down syndrome, has decreased by 23 percent compared to five years ago, according to the National Health Commission.

In addition, a five-year plan was released last year aimed at improving the prevention and control of birth defects. By 2027, China expects the prenatal screening rate to reach at least 90 percent, while the mortality rates for infants and children under five due to birth defects are projected to fall below 0.1 percent and 0.11 percent, respectively.

"I hope the dumpling restaurant will become more than just a place for employment and rehabilitation for people with Down syndrome," Hong said. "I want it to be a platform where they can pursue and realize their dreams." ■

Zhang Fan, an employee with Down syndrome, works at Xiaoboyaohong dumpling restaurant in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 6, 2024. (Xinhua)

Chen Hao, an employee with Down syndrome, works at Xiaoboyaohong dumpling restaurant in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Wei Jingyu)