In Vollpension café (in German “full pension”) you get the best cake, made by retired amateur bakers. Eating brings people together. Loneliness is one of the big issues for many seniors in big cities. This cafe and bakery offer purposeful possibilities to add some income to the low pension that retired seniors often receive.
This place promotes a dialogue between generations: old and young together, regardless of where they come from or who they are: the most important thing is that showing respect and empathy for each other. They get to know each other and learn from one another.
If a senior threatened by loneliness gets out of their apartment thanks to baking and gets integrated in a social structure and support system, meeting new friends, both young and old, has a task in everyday life and additionally earns some extra money to supplement their insufficient pension payment, then the seemingly simple activity of baking cakes becomes a political statement. Active involvement in our society at an older age, self-empowerment through a purposeful activity instead of old-age poverty, dialogue between generations instead of the growing gap between old and young in these times of increasing anonymisation in urban everyday life. The reasons why seniors find their way to Vollpension are as diverse as they are themselves. Over 30 seniors are involved in this innovative initiative.
A visitor can try delicious cakes and pastries in granny’s public living room, in Vienna, order granny’s cake for take away or learn how to bake from senior BackAdemy; they are enthusiastic to be finally able to share their lifelong baking skills with you, whether at in-studio baking courses or via on demand video courses.