Barista Training Workshop for marginalized youth in Kolkata

19/02/2020

As part of its global CSR commitment with the global coffee training programme “A Cup of Learning”, Lavazza has trained over 30 Baristas in the city in association with the NGO

Kolkata, India, 19th February 2020: Lavazza, Italy’s leading coffee company, in collaboration with Save the Children, conducted a hands-on Barista training programme for 15 marginalized youth in Kolkata, between the 10^th and 14^th February 2020. The 5-day session was led by Lavazza India’s Head Trainer, Abdul Sahid Khan, whose aim was to educate the participants with potent coffee concepts and offer the opportunity to become the best Baristas.

This is the third year that the collaboration has enabled indigent adolescents and young adults in Kolkata to earn employment in the hospitality sector by attending a specific training. Aiming to nurture them with a positive approach towards life by providing them with a better future, the workshop was realized to develop skills and enhance their abilities to work as coffee specialists certified by Lavazza. Including this year, the company has trained a total of 45 Baristas as part of this programme.

“A Cup of Learning” is the Lavazza global coffee training programme established with the direct participation of Lavazza’s training experts, focused on beneficiaries from society’s most disadvantaged groups in search of new opportunities in the coffee market. The first training course held in India in 2017, organised in partnership with Save the Children, was followed by various training courses, benefiting more than 120 individuals in 8 countries, in addition to India: Italy, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba, Ecuador, Albania and United Kingdom.

In Kolkata the training effectively covered the following:

Fundamentals of Espresso preparation technique

Introduction to brewing variables

Principles of cleaning and maintaining espresso equipment

Presentation and preparation techniques, and awareness around the latest coffee trends

Modules on milk texturing & Latte Art were conducted along with demonstration of different milk-based Coffee recipes specially handcrafted by Lavazza

“We are partnering with Save the Children for more than fifteen years now. Together, we are opening new doors for vulnerable children and adolescents across the globe, and this project in Kolkata is one of significance to us. Lavazza as a brand stands to support youth in ways and means that would help them obtain employment. It is important to see the enthusiasm with which the participants have imbibed the sessions during the training, their eagerness to grow and develop their skills; this further encourage us to give and to involve more and more people”, said Mario Cerutti, Chief Insitutional Relations and Sustainability Officer of the Lavazza Group.

The workshop was concluded with a theory and practical-based exam that assessed their learnings from the session and was evaluated by an external examiner.

Lavazza continues to strengthen its relationship with Save the Children and has been working in collaboration with the NGO for more than fifteen years now. In the past, this collaboration has worked on successful projects that helped fight child mortality through prevention and treatment of malnutrition. In addition to this, they have also effectively reached out to teenagers who live in unhealthy urban districts to provide training and subsequent follow-up employment support.

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