Professional Education (CAM) Exhibition

Click here or the pictures to see photos in a larger format.

Jan. 4, 2013 text and photos by Chad Lebo

The Professional Education Program (CAM) at Akany Avoko is better than ever. And just before Christmas the dedicated students had a chance to prove it. The students prepared an exhibition to showcase their skills and products. 

The honored guests of staff, teachers and volunteers were treated to amazing food, a fashion show of clothes and hairstyles, a tour of the lush garden and received a 2013 calendar prepared during computer lab lessons. 

All classes are now taught by professional and certified teachers and the curriculum is detailed and comprehensive. Qualified instructors and high expectations are making a real difference. And beginning in 2013, the young women studying in Akany Avoko's Professional Education Program (CAM) will be able to receive government-approved certificates for completed training. This certificates will benefit the young women when seeking jobs and starting their independent lives after Akany Avoko.

Bravo to the students and teachers. 

Back to School

Attentive students in the primary school.

Oct. 12, 2012 text and photos by Chad Lebo

Everyone is back to school!

This week was the first week of school for most of our wonderful students. Our own primary and pre-school started up on Tuesday. And our better-than-ever professional training program kicked off too. There are some new faces among the students and the teachers. We have a new head teacher in our pre-school and 3 new teachers in the professional training program.

There was fantastic energy all week as all the students started their work. And tonight they can all celebrate the first Friday. (No school tomorrow!

 Reminder: Click "See and Read More" below to look at all the photos. 

The new pre-school teacher and some thoughtful students.

New Cooking Teacher

A proud chef and her delicious fried treats, mofo bols. 

July 20, 2012 Text and Photos by Chad Lebo

There are some wonderful aromas coming from the training kitchen lately. The girls in our C.A.M. program (vocational training) have been working hard with their new cooking teacher, M. Mimy. He has great rapport with the students and the skills and recipes they are learning will provide an excellent background to continue on with advanced or specialized cooking training. A fine start when they leave Akany to start their own independent lives.

Garden salad with ham and egg.

It's Beginning to Smell a Lot Like Christmas

The CAM girls baking up a Christmas storm.

Dec. 23, 2011 Text and Photos by Chad Lebo

Christmas is almost here. And Christmas at Akany means singing, dancing, laughing, gifts and eating. The feasting starts tonight. Thanks to generous donors the children are able to get a very special and very delicious meal. Having a feast takes work, but work is not a problem the staff, children and volunteers spent today washing, peeling, cutting, frying stirring.

More about the celebration tomorrow, so please check back in. And don't forget to click below to see all the photos.

Great Teacher, Great Food and a Great Opportunity

The happy chefs and their tasty treats.

August 30, 2011 Text and Photos by Chad Lebo

Last week, the cooks in our vocational educational program (CAM) were treated to a special guest teacher. Chef Jean DURAND is the owner of two wonderful nearby restaurants, L'Agape and Le Combava.

He kindly donates his knowledge and time to our budding chefs about once a month. The girls are able to get professional instruction and expand their recipes and skills. Chef Jean is also able to observe the girls and see who shows the aptitude to succeed in a professional kitchen.

In fact, in a few weeks one of our young women who has proved herself to be quite a talented hand in the kitchen will be starting a job as a cook at Le Combava.

It is an exciting opportunity and hopefully the start of a new career and life.

[Click here to have your own video cooking lesson from Chef Jean.]

Who Does Your Hair?

Seeing their creations and future employment in the salon mirror.

Feb. 1, 2011 text by Lorna Gillespie, photos and captions by Chad Lebo

Everyone wants to be a hairdresser, and the whole of Akany Avoko wants to be princess for a day. C.A.M.'s, the Centre d`Apprentissage de Metier (vocational training for most of us), provides older girls with disrupted education an opportunity to get into princess mode or at least create a few dreams in their hair salon. Local haidressers offer on site training and those girls who show a genuine aptitude receive accredited training. It may not be a diploma, but it is a certificate in the land where a framed certificate means everything.

Annual Akany Avoko Christmas Show

Dec. 29, 2010 Text, Photos and Video by Chad Lebo

After weeks and weeks of practices and rehearsals, the children put on their best clothes and put their best feet forward for the annual Akany Avoko Christmas Show. The guests, staff and the children themselves were treated to dancing, singing and even a morality play with a quite convincing devil that only managed to scare a few children (and possibly this reporter).