Warm welcome to the 9th batch of Young Bakers!

Summer is an important time for Shanghai Young Bakers: as soon as the 8th batch of students graduated we started our 9th batch of Young Bakers’ recruitment trip.





At the end of July, Emilie, the former program director and now program advisor, Zhu Yunyun, the social educator, Zhang Shuai, the bakery teacher, Jin Huizi, the pastry teacher and myself, the new program director, travelled for 15 days across Shaanxi, Anhui and Henan in order to interview potential candidates. Our 7 partners NGO recommended these candidates: five have been SYB partners for now several years and two are new partners: some work with orphans, others with AIDS impacted children, or migrant children, children of convicts…



It was the first time I interviewed Chinese young adults about their life, expectations and difficulties. Listening to their stories was a great lesson of humility. Aged between 17 and 23, the 55 students we interviewed already have been through a lot of difficulties within their families, socially and economically, and are not able to pursue their studies. I was totally astonished by their strength; most people in their situation would have given up.

It is essential for SYB to interview candidates in their local environment to better understand who they are as it helps us to measure China’s diversity and difficulties. Students are more comfortable in a familiar environment to express their feelings and expectations and by taking time together; students could better understand Shanghai Young Bakers’ program and specificities. It is also a really good opportunity for SYB to measure students’ expectation to learn a skill and their commitment. 
 


We are very excited and really proud to welcome the 32 selected young adults, 16 girls and 16 boys coming from 6 provinces and from different backgrounds. Let’s support them to fulfil their goal to become bakers!

Marine
Program Director