50 Years of Friendship
When
I introduce Shanghai Young Bakers to new volunteers or potential
partners, I’m often asked: “So, is your program a French or Chinese
one?” I always find this question hard to answer: SYB was started by a
team of 12 French volunteers, is supported by a network of social-minded
French companies such as Carrefour, Accor or Lesaffre,
and aims at teaching French bakery and pastry to underprivileged youth.
As I’m from France myself people often deduce that a program managed by
a French has to be French!
However it’s not that simple an equation. First of all our program’s
mission is to serve underprivileged Chinese youth, and most of our team,
including all our teachers, is now Chinese. In addition, SYB is part of
Chiheng Foundation, a charity program officially registered in Hong
Kong.
Therefore I like to think that we are a hybrid program, and that we
contribute, on our own scale, to strengthening the bridge between France
and China. The founders of SYB chose French bakery and pastry as the
foundation of our vocational training because there was a very strong
demand from Chinese customers to enjoy these kind of products, and an
important lack of qualified staff in that field for hotels and bakeries
in China. Besides, they were aware that there are French companies
working in China that were willing to share their resources so that to
contribute to the improvement of career prospects for disadvantaged
Chinese youth.
2014 is the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic
relations between France and China. I believe that Shanghai Young
Bakers, by uniting individuals and companies sharing a passion for
French bakery as well as a common concern for the empowerment of young
Chinese, is a beautiful and meaningful embodiment of that friendship.
This newsletter is full of proofs that this friendship is well and
alive, from the visit to Institut Paul Bocuse to learn about French
cuisine to the Young Bakers teaching Chinese bakery to French bakery
students! Long live the friendship indeed…
By Floriane Lemoine, SYB program manager
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A Fun English Class with Stepping Stones Volunteers
On March 20th, three volunteers came to SYB baking center and taught the students English. These volunteers are from Stepping Stones, a partner NGO with a mission to improve the education and general welfare of disadvantaged children in China. Read more...
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From French Baking to French Cooking: SYB students trained by the Restaurant Ecole Paul Bocuse students!
On
April the 1st, Shanghai Young Bakers students were invited to the
Restaurant Ecole Institut Paul Bocuse for an exceptional French Cooking
class. Read more...
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A very special pastry class…for the wedding of Céline, 1st program manager of SYB!
Life
is full of magical moments, moments that you would like to share with
your family, friends and people you love. Marriage belongs to one of
those special moments… Celine, the first program manager of Shanghai
Young Bakers, decided to share this moment with her family but also
include SYB in this special day. Read more...
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