PORTRAIT OF SOKLY : our teacher for the pastry school

by ecoledubayon | 17 Sep 2019 | Bakery and pastry school, Coffee Shop, Vocational training

Sokly is 34 years old and mother of 2 children. She joined the team in February 2017.
Before, she was a cook in a Khmer restaurant that she had opened herself. Even if it was small, she always loved cooking and took a great deal of pleasure from preparing traditional Cambodian dishes for her customers.

After advice from a friend, she decided to try the entry contest to get into the prestigious École d’Hôtellerie et de Tourisme Paul Dubrule. She completed it successfully and followed the pastry training.
After graduating from Paul Dubrule in 2016, she also enrolled in a cake decoration training in Sihanoukville as well as with the Vietnamese company Cream to complete her skill set.
She was then recruited by Brown Coffee, a Coffee shop Cambodia chain famous throughout the country. She worked 7 months in one of their cafés and met a few students who were there for their internship for a school that was growing in popularity: Bayon Pastry School.
Her old pastry teacher at Paul Dubrule vividly recommended her to Sokhoeurn, our pastry school director. What was the essential quality that convinced Sokhoeurn? Her skills in the preparation of vienoisseries and breads.

Bayon School was an opportunity for her to exceed her expectations. She now teaches all the classes linked to pastry, practical and theoretical. She is very happy to be able to share her knowledge with her students who are very curious, attentive and diligent. Day after d ay, she tries to make her classes more interactive by creating a variety of activities and workshops. To successfully lead this project, she does not hesitate to ask for help from ex-teachers and her friends.
The main objective for her is that the students enjoy their training and have the platform to showcase their creativity. She is also committed to the importance of post-training recruitment for the students. It is very important for the students to find a stimulating position, that they enjoy and have a salary which permits them to live and to help their families.
Sometimes she feels like a second mother for the students who decided to study pastry far away from their homes. She listens to them, helps them and is always available. `
Like every year, the end of the year is particularly difficult for her as she has to say goodbye to the students that she guided and supported all year. Unfortunately, the transition with the following promotion of students is rarely very long.

The new academic year started at the start of September and Sokly already has many ideas of games to teach pastry in ludic way and in order to share a maximum of knowledge in the simplest fashion.
Well done Sokly and thank you for your investment!

Former student’s testimony

by ecoledubayon | 20 Jun 2019 | Bakery and pastry school, Coffee Shop, Vocational training

Sothoan: My training has been very helpful! I learnt English, computing, baking and put my skills into practice in the Pastry Lab and during my internships. My experiences at Park Hyatt and at the Heritage Hotel allowed me to acquire a certain discipline and expand my skills in pastry and bakery.
At the Bayon School, the teachers taught me an expertise and good manners, which allowed me to become an independent woman!Maelys: Did you like your daily life with other students?
Sothoan: Yes I liked it a lot, it was a bit like a second family. We slept in the same room and had our meals together. We always had lots of activities, like playing football or reading books. I learned a trade and simultaneously created a second family.

Maelys: Today, are you still friends with the people you met at Bayon?
Sothoan: I made lots of friends, at least 16! Can you imagine?
I see them all the time, we go shopping together, we walk to Angkor Wat, and from time to time we visit Sokhoeurn our former head pastry chef at the Bayon School.Maelys: How did you find a job after your training?
Sothoan: The Bayon team helped me during my research. Thanks to my level of English and my experience, I found a job easily at Bang Bang Bakery. Now I live by my passion, and I’m proud of it!Maelys: What are your responsibilities and schedules at Bang Bang Bakery?
Sothoan: I’m a baker and pastry cook, but when there are customers I turn into a waitress. Here, I have to be multi-skilled!
I start at 7am and finish at 3pm. I have busy days.

Maelys: What are your parents’ jobs?
Sothoan: My mother is a farmer, my father died 11 years ago. Before, he worked in Thailand to support the family.

Maelys: What does your family think about your work?
Sothoan: My mother is very proud! Thanks to my professional success, I help my family to live.

Maelys: What is your salary?
Sothoan: When I started one year ago I earned $160, and today thanks to my professionalism I earn $200 per month.

Maelys: What would be your dream job?
Sothoan: I would like to become a baking teacher to share my knowledge. In my opinion, this is the best job I can do.
And in succession, I would like to create my own bakery! It’s my biggest dream! But before that I have to save money and gain more experience.

An unforgettable charity night at the fabulous THEAM’S HOUSE

by ecoledubayon | 20 Mar 2019 | Bakery and pastry school, Coffee Shop, Vocational training

On 6th March our NGO hosted Bayon Charity Night – our annual charity night in Siem Reap. We received a very warm welcome from Maddy of the Theam’s House art gallery and event host. This traditional Khmer house created by designer Lim Muy Theam hosts an impressive collection of paintings, sculpture and music instruments made by the artist on site.
For the occasion, we were pleased to have chef Fabrice Prochasson, who holds the “Meilleur Ouvrier de France” title. This Chef of Creation at ARYZTA Food visited Cambodia to work with our team to create and prepare an incredible buffet mixing Asian and French flavours.

For 3 days before the event, the whole pastry team was on fire. Our Chef Sokhoeurn Morn did a great job managing our small team, not used to such big events, to prepare a large buffet. Rigour, adaptation and efficiency were the keywords in the pastry lab! The students worked hard and that night was the opportunity for them to discover what a real ‘a la française’ buffet was. All the Bayon team got involved in organising this event: cooking, parking, reception, selling tickets, photographing…

As every year, we were grateful to receive the valuable support of many sponsors in Siem Reap, helping with logistics, drinks and ingredients. We would also like to thank all the local businesses that generously offered prizes for the night.
The charity night brought together 133 people and we are proud to have raised $8,500 through the lucky draw and auction sale!
Beyond the fundraising, which is indispensable for our NGO, this event was the opportunity to bring together the ‘friends of Bayon School’ and demonstrate the professionalism and progress or our students.
If you would like to get involved and support our action, you can make a donation here or become a sponsor.