New Kitchen Opens at Chapala Preparatory High School
Posted
on Mar 30, 2016
Earlier his month, the new kitchen facility at the Chapala Preparatory High Schoolwas officially opened – on-time and under-budget – with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by teachers and students at the school, Sheila Paull and Walter Thornton from CSRC,President Javier Degollado of the Municipio de Chapala, Juan Ramon Alvarez Lopez (Director of the Chapala Regional Preparatoria) and Javier Espinoza De Los Monteros (a representative of the Rector of the University of Guadalajara).
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Last year, Juan Ramon Alvarez Lopez, Regional Director of the Chapala Preparatory High School, asked CSRC for help.
About 150 of the 1,200 students at the public high school come from homes with little or no food and arrive at school hungry most days, having traveled miles by bus or on foot to get there. Their frequently-poor health leads to concentration and behavior problems, and – despite an amazing drive to learn – many end up dropping out of school, perpetuating their cycle of poverty.
To help resolve this problem, the school wanted to expand its program to give at-risk students a nutritional meal each day and give them skills to find part-time work to earn money to help support their families and their education. The idea is to deliver an ongoing class, offered as part of their Tourism program, teaching the importance of nutrition as well as skills in food preparation and service. Students could learn from the school’s teaching staff and volunteer teachers from the Restaurant Association. They would also receive help in developing a business plan to start their own small food-service business if they wish, in co-operation with the school’s new Business Development Center, where students develop their own business ideas.
This project required a nutrition classroom with a computer, resource materials and a small commercial kitchen facility.Minor gas line and electrical work were also needed in the building to support the facility.
Earlier ths month, the new kitchen facility at the Chapala Preparatory High Schoolwas officially opened – on-time and under-budget – with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by teachers and students at the school, Sheila Paull and Walter Thornton from CSRC,President Javier Degollado of the Municipio de Chapala, Juan Ramon Alvarez Lopez (Director of the Chapala Regional Preparatoria) and Javier Espinoza De Los Monteros (a representative of the Rector of the University of Guadalajara).
The program is being run by the school – their focus is to keep these students healthy and in school to help achieve their potential.