Marine is a graduate in Chinese, Sociology and more recently in Management of Development. Before moving to Shanghai to join Shanghai Young Bakers’ team, she worked for more than four years in Guangxi Province for the French association Couleurs de Chine in order to provide school fees to children issued from minorities. She is convinced that a little push can place everyone out of the social and financial difficulties and can bring people to lead their path with dignity. Shanghai Young Bakers is for her this little push that helps young students to gain real skills and self-confidence in order to develop themselves and their environment. She joined the team in May 2016 as Deputy Program Director.

Before moving to Shanghai in March 2015, Pascal has lived in Canberra, Australia, where he worked for the Australian Government as an Information Technology Project Manager and Team Leader. Previously, Pascal has worked for many years and in several different countries in the IT industry. At SYB, Pascal is in charge of developing new partnerships with companies and foundations wishing to support our program and engage in Corporate Social Responsibility.

Floriane is a graduate from Sciences Po Paris and Peking University. Her studies focused on her two passions: China and sustainable development. After getting actively involved in various non-profits, she realized that the most disadvantaged have all the resources to get out of poverty by themselves, all they need is for people or organizations to tap into their huge potential! Finding SYB to be the embodiment of this belief, she joined the team in 2011 and was program manager from 2012 to 2014. Back to France for new adventures in the NGO/social enterprise world, she remains involved as a program advisor. 

After an exchange year at Nanjing University to study Chinese and complete her master’s degree in cross-cultural relations, Emilie found herself a real passion for Chinese society and culture. After a few years working in Shanghai, she decided to take a turn in her career and do something she had always wanted to: join the non-profit sector. Joining SYB is the perfect way to give back to the Chinese society which has now welcomed her for 8 years, by helping underprivileged Chinese youth to gain financial independence and access to a dignified life.

Mrs Helene Hovasse is the Head of food and agro business department at BusinessFrance China, the commercial branch of the French Consulate. As  the mentor of the project since the beginning of the SYB adventure, she  has provided invaluable support and contacts to the program. 

Graduated from ESSEC Paris business school with a major in marketing and social entrepreneurship, Clementine has first been working for 14 years in marketing within the food industry in Europe, USA and China. As an avid backpacker traveler, she has a strong interest for Asian cultures enriched by a 1-year trip throughout Asia and her today life in Shanghai. She is also a food passionate and she sees food as the best way to understand other cultures and create bonding between countries and people. Before moving to Shanghai in 2015, she was a social intrapreneur in her former food company. She joined with great enthusiasm the social enterprise of Shanghai Young Bakers and is in charge of developing the services for the bakery industry such as professional trainings and consulting services.

Emma Louise is Franco-American, and graduated in 2016 from King’s College London with a degree in European Studies. Through work as a volunteer for various charities, and her War Studies major, Emma Louise strengthened a commitment to bridging cultural and ideological divides, and combatting social inequality. She joined SYB as a Partnership Manager with the desire to encourage companies to bolster their social responsibility engagement. Emma Louise believes that when businesses allocate time and resources to solving collective issues, significant social progress can be achieved.

Xiao Jinjin is from Anhui province. She received her high school diploma before enrolling in our pilot programme. She interned at the Hyatt on the Bund and the Crowne Plaza as part of her training at SYB. Xiao Jinjin specialises in French pastry and taught SYB students for four years before taking over as the technical director of SYB’s social enterprise. She manages, develops and improves SYB’s commercial activities whose profits are used to fund the students’ training. Besides making pastry, she is passionate about everything that can improve the SYB programme and help people in need, who, just like her, want to make a positive change in their lives.

Mengxin Chen is currently working as a full time clinical researcher at a world’s leading pharmaceutical company.  Started out as one of the weekend market volunteers, she has participated directly or indirectly in almost every SYB market events in the past two years.  Upon her recent appointment as the weekend market coordinator, she strives to continue her devotion as the SYB program embassy, managing the markets, raising funds and most importantly, increasing public awareness of SYB program.

Anne-Claire came to Shanghai in July 2016 after spending 7 years in Germany. Besides taking Chinese lessons and getting to know Chinese culture, she felt the need to make her stay in China more meaningful for others and decided to take part in the Shanghai Young Bakers’ adventure. Her role is to promote SYB’s social enterprise activities to the French community. Anne-Claire holds a Master in Engineering and has several years’ experience working as either a Communication Manager or Project Manager.

Lindsey, currently an undergraduate student majoring in sociology at Shanghai University, joined SYB to contribute to the organization’s cause.  With her previous volunteering experience at Luxun’s final residence, she finds helping others to be a meaningful and enjoyable endeavor. As SYB’s Communication Coordinator, she is in charge of promoting SYB via various media platforms, including newspapers, e-newsletters, and social media (Weibo, WeChat, Flickr). She also takes pleasure in working with volunteers and looks forward to attending the students’ graduation ceremony this year.

Susan is a senior student majoring in cultural industry management at the Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts (SIVA). Having worked in the film industry and digital media in marketing and promotion, Susan now brings her expertise to the nonprofit sector. Previously, Susan has participated in charitable activities as a teacher in Tibet, as a volunteer at an orphanage in Vietnam, and as a volunteer at a delicacies market. She is passionate about volunteering and loves baking, and is now in charge of promoting SYB’s social enterprise through digital media while providing support for its public classes. Susan is currently writing her final research dissertation, which is on the innovation and brand-building of the nonprofit sector in China. “The fragrance always lingers in the hand that gives the rose” is the age-old saying that inspires Susan to devote herself to public welfare.