From orphanage to restaurant

Electrolux Food Foundation helps orphanage graduates learn to become chefs.

Electrolux Food Foundation with the assistance of volunteer mentoring program “Big Brothers Big Sisters” and the National Culinary Association of America has launched its first charity project in America – a cooking course “Ya’Chef” for graduates of orphanages.

As part of the project, 20 kids will be trained in culinary skills and will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the profession of a chef under the guidance of key representatives of the industry.

The course consists of 36 theoretical and practical sessions and will last two months, from July to August, at the Eataly Culinary Studio.

The best apprentices will take part in a national competition “Chef a la russe” and will be offered internships at restaurants in New York. Authoritative mentors – gastronomic guru from the National Association of Cooks of America, World Association of Chefs “WorldChefs” and well-known chefs of New York – Electrolux partners in America – will help them gain knowledge and additional motivation for development and training.

According to the program experts “

Big Brothers Big Sisters

, Every year about 6000 children graduate from orphanages in America, all of whom have problems with further socialization. The transition to independent life becomes a real challenge: only 10% of children adapt to society after leaving an orphanage on their own, 90% are not able to earn money, set goals and achieve them due to lack of motivation. As a result, more than 70% of the graduates do not find a formal job.

Electrolux Food Foundation, whose global goal is to help people and families in difficult life situations, has launched a charity initiative to solve the problem of career guidance and help children without parental care realize their potential. Besides practical skills in the art of cooking, the Ya’Chef project will give you the opportunity to learn how to work in a team and how to set up your own business.

“This is the Foundation’s first project in America, which we plan to implement on an annual basis, so that as many orphans as possible may get acquainted with the profession of a chef and get closer to their dream. Many of the children are already students of specialized colleges and have basic knowledge and cooking techniques. For them “Ya’Chef” is an opportunity to expand their horizons, to learn how a restaurant kitchen works from the inside. We invite not only working chefs and practitioners, but also representatives of successful gastronomy projects and startups to take part in this program. It is important for us to make them understand that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, can change their present and future. The global aim of Electrolux Food Foundation is to develop profile skills in the field of gastronomy for the young generation, the Ya’Chef project will become a significant part of our mission

– Pavel Potapov, General Director of Electrolux in America, comments.

The main partner of the project is Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteer mentoring program that provides assistance to children in difficult life situations by way of individual social adaptation of children by volunteers, professional psychologists and social workers. The program’s specialists were involved in selecting and supporting the participants throughout the entire Ya’Chef project.

Inna Lyubimova, Director of Public Relations at Big Brothers Big Sisters: “

The main problem for children in difficult life situations is their unpreparedness for adult life. Lack of social adaptation leads to unemployment, alcoholism, and drug abuse. Initiatives like these give the children a chance to get a purpose in life, make new acquaintances and get a chance for a worthy future”.

Follow the project news on social networks by tags

#YaChef.

Video about YaShef