Arianne Pingledis, Program Assistant, September 25, 2012
Flyers advertising a new session of Cooking School
Beginning in October, Hope for Haiti’s Les Cayes Guest House will once again be a busy place on Saturday afternoons as the Cooking School starts a new session. Overseen entirely by Support Team Manager and Cooking School Director, Carmene Alverbe, the Cooking School began in 2009 as an effort to support the local community. “Many young women and men know how to cook; they just don’t know how to expand that outside of their own kitchens,” Carmene explains. With support from Hope for Haiti, Carmene developed the courses in order to teach young women and men marketable skills—skills which have since been put to use in their homes, in various Les Cayes restaurants, and even in their own new businesses.
A student prepares seasoning for a chicken
recipe she learned in cooking school
After learning the basics at a cooking school near her hometown of Gris Gris, Carmene spent years picking up more tricks of the trade and perfecting her recipes. The Cooking School does not focus solely on teaching new recipes, however. Also crucial to the curriculum are topics such as: balanced nutrition, food preparation and sanitation, planning and budgeting, and presentation techniques. In addition to gaining practical job skills, past students have pointed to an improved quality of life in their own homes, where they’ve been able to provide nutritious meals to their families while adhering to a tight budget.
Recent graduates pose with Cooking School Director Carmene
Carmene’s Cooking School has served 22 students and is now ready to begin its’ 6th iteration. Classes are held each Saturday afternoon for 12 weeks, culminating in a graduation ceremony where students prepare and present their dishes to the Hope for Haiti staff. Graduates have found employment in local businesses and have also started their own restaurants, thanks to the skills they acquired through Carmene’s Cooking School and Hope for Haiti. Good luck to the upcoming class!