In today’s difficult economic times, having a skill is an important requirement when trying to gain employment… And the Knead Academy of Bakers on 2nd Ave in Laudium, is offering a helping hand in this regard.
The Academy which offers free baking courses to unemployed, unskilled women to empower them to earn an income from home, had its graduation ceremony last Friday afternoon (Dec 3). The Laudium Sun spoke to Mariam Khan of Mendhi Street, a graduate of the academy, who enthused, “I’m very happy and grateful for the opportunity the school has offered to me to learn and to upgrade my skill in baking. I gained confidence since I joined the school, and my baking skills have improved. To the people who sponsored us, the students, this is a life time opportunity and now I can face the world with a certificate. Also, I will start my own business in baking. This was a great month of challenges, creating new friends and new skills.”
Dillan Roycroft, the Executive Chef and Project Manager at the Academy of Bakers, said, “In our school, we empower the under-privileged and those who are willing to work hard to build their own small business in the baking industry. We also assist our graduates with starting a small business in baking and also any small baking business can come to our school to sell their products. We would like to thank the ‘Al Fidaa Foundation’ and ‘Light of the Needy’ for helping in opening the 5th branch of our baking school. Our objectives are to offer free baking courses to the impoverished, unemployed and unskilled ladies in the community, and to teach them to bake and decorate confidently and earn an income from home. The student, after completing this course, can be self-employed and able to create employment, which will benefit other people in their home, family and community. Baking from home provides a sustainable income with low overheads. The more effort the home baker makes, the greater the rewards. With experience and decorating techniques, the product value changes. This allows the home baker to make a greater profit, also taking into account the low start-up costs, with easily acquired baking products. An oven and basic ingredients can transform a kitchen into an industrious business. There are many opportunities and occasions in the community to sell baked treats to family, neighbours, local shops, schools & community events. Profits can easily be drawn on a constant basis to sustain daily home expenses. A formal education is not required to learn how to bake. Our basic course will be sufficient to generate an income. The products students make are cakes, cupcakes, biscuits, pastries and rolls.”
Salim Mia, the founder of ‘Light of the Needy’ and Manager at ‘Al Fidaa Foundation’, said, “This is the beginning of new hopes in Laudium, where we are empowering the people of Laudium and surroundings with the opening of the school. To the students who are graduating today, we are very proud of them and their hard word. We are even planning to expand the school with sewing and IT classes. For now, we will focus on the Academy of Bakery, as a theoretical and hands-on practical tutoring of baking, including planning, preparation, hygiene and safety, costing, selling and budgeting. Also, how to market products in the community, packaging & presentation of baked treats, bake to sell – students bake and sell products. A four-week course of 12 students per class, will begin as from January 2022. Monday to Thursday: 8.30am -2.30pm- Friday: 8.30am to 11.00am. We donate the items baked by our students weekly to Old Age Homes, and Orphanages. Corporate companies are encouraged to contribute, sponsor or partner with us. As the course is free…we require funding for ingredients and monthly overheads. Sponsor a student with essential baking equipment and ingredients upon graduation so that they can start baking immediately. Any form of donations are welcome [Vouchers, baking equipment or ingredients, recipe books, etc.] – Sponsor a student for the free baking course –R6 500.00 per student. Sponsor the taxi fare for the duration of the course – R 800.00 per student. Sponsor a starter kit to the value of R2 900.00 so that students can bake immediately at home after completing our course: R2 200.00 for essential equipment and a hand mixer with bowl stand. R 700.00 for ingredients. Please contact our Project Manager, Dillan on 061 430 5668 or Head Chef, Spiwe on 082 735 5563.
A few of the treats made by students at the Academy of Bakers.
