Former Street Kids Earn Cookery Skills

Young men from CCT's residential school proudly show their cookery course certificates. 

Twelve of the young men cared for by the Center for Community Transformation (CCT) at its residential school in Magdalena, Laguna have gained cookery skills after attending a Bayan Academy course.They also passed the related competency assessment of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), earning national certification 2.

"What a blessing this is," enthused Ruth Callanta, CCT president and founder, after the graduation ceremony. "Who would have thought that these boys, who just a few years ago lived on the street, can now prepare and cook several international dishes!Nothing is impossible if you believe in God," she added, reflecting on the transformation undergone by the young men.

The cookery course is part of Bayan Academy's Entreprenuership Education for Community Development program sponsored by J.P. Morgan and held in partnership with TESDA and CCT. The intention of this program, according to the Bayan website, is that trainees armed with both a technical vocation and business management knowledge become 'technopreneurs' fully equipped to establish their own income and employment generating enterprise.

The young men learned cold kitchen fundamentals such as the preparation and production of sandwiches and salads, and hot kitchen recipes such as soups and main dishes. Among the main dishes they can now make are risotto and paella. They also learned how to make pastries and desserts such as cream puffs, baklava, and mousse.

According to Arthur Aguinaldo of Bayan Academy, the TESDA national certificate 2 that each of the young men earned is a plus point for future employment because it is recognized by local and international employers and  is the same certificate also sought by graduates of high-end culinary schools.

Ruth Callanta, CCT president and founder, signs
certificates while two happy graduates look on. 

Bayanihan at the Magdalena Campus

 

Ruth Callanta, CCT president, and head office staff, friends and children joined AMG Skilled Hands College scholars, Alternative Learning System students, and Kaibigans (former street dwellers) for a day of bayanihan work at the CCT Training and Development Institute (CTDI) - Magdalena campus shortly  before its opening in August last year. (Bayanihan is based on a Filipino tradition from long ago when neighbors would help a relocating family by hoisting that family's bamboo hut on their shoulders and moving it to its new location. Today the word has come to mean the spirit of communal unity, cooperation and volunteerism.)  The bayanihan workers cleared away construction debris, planted saplings and perennials, washed windows and walls, and painted bed frames to help ready the campus for its first batch of students.

Ruth Callanta briefs volunteers on work areas and activities.

AMG Skilled Hands Technological College students (CCT scholars)

Ana Mae Labanero, manager, CTDI

Rose Salvador, accountant, Kaibigan Ministry

An Alternative Learning System student

Eunice,daughter of Luz Saludo,
 HR officer, Kaibigan Ministry

Cherry Espino, peer servant, research and development unit. 

Monchito Callanta

Alvin Leo Bonjoc, accountant, CTDI

Cynthia Frane, administrative assistant

Volunteers workers share reflections on doing bayanihan
 work at the end of a fruitful day.