FAQ 常见问题

• Why did SYB choose traditional French bakery as the core of SYB training?

• Why is the training reserved to underprivileged Chinese? Can I join if I pay for it?

• What are the students’ job prospects?

• Can I buy SYB bread?

• How is SYB funded?

• Is SYB managed by Chinese or foreigners?

• Are you all volunteers?

Why did you choose traditional French bakery as the core of SYB training?

The 12 French founders of the SYB project wanted to create a charity program that would empower disadvantaged young Chinese. Having heard about 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 looked for on the job market.

To know more: our training:

Why is the training reserved to underprivileged Chinese? Can I join if I pay for it?

Some charity trainings are open to anyone so that half of the students not only pay their own training fees, but also the ones of an underprivileged student, making the training free for the latter. Although this is a good way to combine solidarity and fundraising, for the moment Shanghai Young Bakers is not open to the public, and students are exclusively recruited through partner associations.

Our goal is to give more opportunities to the ones in need. By reserving the training to the underprivileged Chinese youth, we believe that we empower them with a skill that few other people have, thus giving them more chances to succeed.

Besides, our resources in terms of bakery teachers or internship places are limited, so we want to focus them on the ones that need it the most.

To know more: our training, recruitment

What are the students' job prospects?

Given the unique character of the training, the young bakers have many job opportunities once graduated, either in Shanghai or closer to their home town. We help them in their transition to the job market by organizing a career fair as well as proposing entrepreneurship trainings for those who dream of opening their own bakery. Most of the young bakers secure employment within two weeks after their graduation!

To know more: our training: success stories

Can I buy SYB bread?

Although we plan on opening a social café, there is no SYB bakery yet! However you can enjoy the delicious SYB bread and pastries through our catering services, or by taking part in a bakery lesson!

To know more: classes and catering

How is SYB funded?

As a charity program, we want to keep the training free and hope to empower more and more underprivileged young Chinese! To do so implies important funding needs. At the moment, most of our financial resources come from our sponsors: Carrefour, Lesaffre and Sweetpearl. However we hope to gain in financial sustainability by raising our own funds through catering and public bakery classes.

To know more: our partners, Classes and catering

Is SYB managed by Chinese or foreigners?

Both! Although the program started out as a project of the French Junior Economic Chamber, volunteers from all over the world are now joining their efforts to make the training endure!

To know more: about SYB: team; Get involved

Are you all volunteers?

During its first year, Shanghai Young Bakers was entirely run by volunteers. As the program was getting bigger, a full-time project manager, Thomas, was hired so that to help SYB grow! Cecile, in charge of education and communication, also works half-time for the program. They both benefit from the precious help of many volunteers!

To know more: about SYB: team

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