History 我们的历史

Shanghai Young Bakers started in 2008 as a social innovation project of the French Junior Economic Chamber of Shanghai. A team of 12 French friends, who had been living in China for a few years, wanted to give back to the country that had welcomed them.

Inspired by a social bakery in Vietnam, they discovered that the bakery market was booming in China as well, due to the rapid growth of bakeries and 4/5 stars hotels. However qualified bakers were still lacking, given that no French bakery training existed in China so far. Shanghai Young Bakers was thus created so that to equip the underprivileged with a skill that is needed on the job market.

The project was launched in February 2009 with the arrival of the 16 students who took part in Shanghai Young Bakers' first training session.

Initially six-months long, the training now lasts one year. In addition to bakery classes and practical internships, life skills and English classes have been added to further the graduates' career development opportunities. Since its inception, 53 students have successfully graduated and a 4th batch is under way!

On 16th May 2010, the project was handed over to a charity with a longstanding history of effective social work in China, the Chiheng foundation, in order to guarantee the programme's social mission and ensure its  continued development on the long-term.