Cultural exchange and integration are the principals of Lund commune. Students and non-students, Swedes and internationals, young and old should have space to come together. The Lilla Caféet provides an opportunity do go in this direction.
Johan Ulsson balances a big tray with coffee and cakes to the table of four ladies, sitting next to the big window facade of the Lilla Caféet. Johan serves and talks with them. He knows them well.
Johan is 24 years old and, like his colleagues, has a mental disease diagnoses. The café offers a form of daily activity (Daglig Verksamhet) for them. Malin Langöe, occupational therapist and employer of the café, explains: “In total we have 30 clients, who can work here as much as they like.”
Michaela Glemme, 21 years old, finished baking her cake and waits for her lunch shift to start. She uses the time to welcome Anastasios Constantinidis. He is a well-known person in Lilla Caféet, too. He says: “Especially the summer is very nice. You can sit outside in the big garden, meet friends and chat.”
The garden is also 
Michaela´s favorite: “I enjoy working in the café, but I wish to work as a gardener someday.”
Johan is already engaged in other activities: “I have four different jobs. I also repair cars, help at a riding stable and sing in a chore.” Still he is coming once a week to work at the café. “I especially enjoy the serving. I want to meet people.”
Michaela and her colleague Patrik Lundberg, 29 years old, agree on that. Patrik comes even four days a week: “I know all the customers by name, I like to talk with them.”
“The most exciting thing is when people with other cultures and even other languages come to visit.”, says Johan and Patrik adds: “It would be nice to have more of them coming around especially more people of our age.”
“The problem is”, explains Malin: “that we are under a special law of the commune which allows us to sell cheaper, but just to retired people.”
That is why the little café does not receive a lot of attention and that is why the only sign on the gate says: for pensionärer.
Maj-Lis Norgren appreciates this system: “You know the people, it is tranquil and never to full. I could not imagine going to one of this campus cafes. There are so loud and crowded.”
