Cafeterias and cooking schools generate new opportunities for youths from El Alto city

With the objective of improving the quality of life of the community of El Alto, within the principles of gender equality, cultural diversity, and food safety, this June 2nd the MANQ'A Project will initiate its activities, promoted and executed by MeltingPot Bolivia, with the support of CAF, Development Bank of Latin America, ICCO Cooperacion Sudamerica, and i3 Impacto Social. 

Each one of the MANQ'A schools (Aymara word for food) will train youths from at-risk vulnerable segments of the population in gastronomic areas, from the ages of 16-28, benefitting approximately 3,000 adolescents and young adults of the city of El Alto. One hundred percent of the teaching-learning model will be based on practice. 

Each school is also a cafeteria or popular diner that will provide the students the tools to develop themselves in a new occupation, improve the diets of the people in each community through the adequate use of local ingredients, and improve family consumer habits. The program will include talks, workshops, and courses regarding hygiene and nutrition for neighbors, gastronomic business owners, and street vendors. 

The schools of this first phase will be located in the areas of Santa Isabel, Primero de Marzo, Franz Tamayo, and Santa Rosa. The first school, located in the Santa Isabel Urbanization, will initiate activities on June 2nd with bread baking, pastry, and national and international cuisine courses. It is important to highlight that the project has made strategic alliances with neighborhood associations from different districts of the city of El Alto, whose support and contributions have been essential for the implementation of the project.