Former student’s testimony

Former student’s testimony

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

Maelys: What did you learn during your training at Bayon School?

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.
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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.
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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.

The Kampot jewels offered by fair farms to Bayon school

The Kampot jewels offered by fair farms to Bayon school

by | 3 May 2019 | Bakery and pastry school, Coffee Shop, Vocational training

We have been selling Kampot pepper for 2 years in order to support Bayon school activities. This pepper is offered by Fair Farms, a company created in Cambodia in 2014.

The pepper is packed in small Krama bags made by the mother of one of our primary school student. The incomes generated through the selling of these bags increases Coffee Shop annual revenues and is also an opportunity for organizing external events such as the charity gala in Paris, the Albert Menez special offers, various sales in Singapore and Cambodia…
In addition, the selling of these Krama bags helps the mother to get additional income that contributes in improving her family living conditions.
All the profits generated from these sales benefits to Bayon School and help us to provide quality education to youths living in the temples of Angkor.
cqscFair Farms sells “The Kampot Jewels”, and its name expresses its founders’ willingness: to be fair and to help the local population.
“The Fair Farms philosophy is based on two main themes: respect for the land through 100% organic farming and respect for the human through the implementation of a social responsibility charter to improve to the way of life of our employees. Holidays, maternity leave, insurance, comfortable wages, meals, education, we take care of our family! “Norbert Binot – Founder of Fair Farms.
The team is composed of experienced farmers who have been growing pepper for generations. They control each tree to ensure their health and taste tests are done daily to ensure the optimal drying and quality.
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The production techniques of “Kampot Jewels” are 100% organic and traditional:
– Manual watering for better control of diseases & insects
– Use of natural twines made on site to avoid soil pollution
– Respect of traditional farming methods
– Natural fertilizers
– Manual harvesting and sorting
– Drying in the sun on high table in enclosed space to avoid any contamination with the ground, animals or insects.
That way, Fair Farms guarantees optimum quality. This product is AB certified and Fair Farms is the first and only Fair Trade certified Fair Trade Company in Cambodia. In addition, Fair Farms managers are very committed in protecting the environment and allocate 2% of their turnover to various development projects (recycling of plastic and glass, creation of the first water filter at the farm…).
This quality allows Fair Farms to include among its customers some of the greatest gastronomy tables: Pierre Gagnaire, Romain Meder, Alain Ducasse training center, Julien Royer, Alexandre Couillon, etc.
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The Bayon School thanks Fair Farms and its managers for their faithful support and for their work that “allow Cambodia grow” and our action as well! Congratulations!
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An unforgettable charity night at the fabulous THEAM’S HOUSE

An unforgettable charity night at the fabulous THEAM’S HOUSE

by | 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.
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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…
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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.