Charity apprentice program for disadvantaged Chinese youth
“Give yourself a chance to make a difference.” When 18-year-old Li Danyue wrote this sentence on her WeChat introduction after first moving to Shanghai from Weinan, Shaanxi Province, she had no idea that just one year later she would be delivering the same message in a graduation ceremony speech to her classmates.
Li, along with 29 other disadvantaged youth from China’s countryside, were the latest graduates of the Shanghai Young Bakers (SYB) program. SYB is a charity program providing fully sponsored French bakery and pastry training.
Each year the program accepts 30 students, aged 17 to 23, interested in improving their lives by becoming French bakery apprentices. Li joined the program at the recommendation of a local NGO; when asked about her dreams, she cited becoming a baker and learning English as her top-two.
For one year she has gained technical baking and life skills by alternating two weeks of intensive classes on French and Chinese baking and English language lessons while interning at the program’s partner 5-star hotel.
Li Danyue (second from left) and her classmates graduate from the SYB program.
“I feel I am closer to my dream. My training turned me from a timid, reserved girl to an independent, fearless young baker,” Li told the Global Times, explaining that prior to coming to Shanghai she had never been out of her home village.
Adapting to society
At their graduation ceremony, Li and the others received a Certificate of Achievement from SYB and an Occupational Qualification Certificate awarded by the French Consul General in Shanghai.
“I am grateful to all the teachers who have treated us like their own children and family. They have not only taught us technical skills but also how to adapt to society,” Li said in English during her speech.
Cecile Cavoizy, executive director of SYB, told the Global Times that what impressed her most about the latest class of SYB graduates is the team spirit, solidarity and confidence they developed over the course of their program.
“A lot of students, when they first come here, they might not have a lot of self-confidence in themselves because they have very difficult pasts,” Cavoizy said. “What we really try to do is when they come here to let them believe in themselves to actually accomplish something.”
The latest SYB graduates pose for a photo.
Cavoizy said she was also happy to see the students develop intimate friendships between themselves, which carried over into their kitchens. “They will always have 29 other students that they can count on, contact, listen to and help each other after graduation.”
Helping other NGOs
As for life after graduation, Cavoizy believes they will have no problem finding a job. “There are so many job opportunities out there. I have no doubt that they will continue to have very bright futures,” said Cavoizy.
As for the future development of SYB, she said the organization is hoping to partner with other charity organizations to help develop their own social bakery programs. A few years ago, SYB helped a school for the blind in Tibet set up their own bakery program by teaching one of their staff how to bake.
SYB’s own French bakery and pastry classes are taught by former SYB graduates with outstanding capabilities. They further their training in France before returning to Shanghai to help out with future classes.
“So these are the kind of things we can share with other NGOs. We want to help them set up their own social bakery programs for people with different disabilities,” Cavoizy said.
SYB also offers commercial and consulting services in China’s food and beverage industry.
Axel Cruau, Consul General of France in Shanghai, speaks at the graduation ceremony. Photos: Qi Xijia/GT
The link to original article: http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1057060.shtml
Author: Qi Xijia/GT
