Leonardo PLM
cook sector
The project was developed during four weeks, from 15th of September to the 13th of October 2013. Participants were 15 people from Croatia.
Preparation of the mobility project
In order to make a cooperation between both organizations effective, to guarantee the best quality of the project and to satisfy participant’s expectations and needs, we have elaborated the program of the visit together. We have exchanged e-mails in order to discuss the aims of the project, to develop the plan of activities and to explain all the doubts.
The group of participants arrived 15th of September 2013 at the airport of Catania. The A Rocca organization provided the transfer from the airport to participant’s accommodation in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto town.
The next day they had an informative welcome meeting, designed to give the participants useful information they require during their stay in Sicily. Firstly, they had the introduction to the program in general. The tutor informed the trainees about the organization and described the work activities, obligations and tasks they will be involved in during the project. Next, they were provided with the plan of the city and were acquainted with all the hospitalities of Barcellona P.G. and nearest cities.
Next informative session was dedicated to the cultural aspects of their life in Sicily: the work style in Italy, rules to follow, behaviour and other information was explained to the participants. The “Help me” card with useful numbers and phrases in Italian, and the leaflet about all the useful information they may need (address, rules, tips, etc) during their stay were distributed.
Accommodation of the participants
Participants were accommodated in three different flats in Barcellona P.G. town. The flats for participants were fully equipped (including kitchenware, washing machine, bed covers etc.) and well located in the city center. The participants were living in the following locations: four persons of them, in Via Arcodaci 44, five persons in Piazza Alfano, and the sixth person stayed in Via Trieste. They were placed in individual and double rooms.
Placement Details
The subject of the placement for participants was cooking. The interns had the opportunity to learn whatever is needed for a future professional career as cookers. The placements were located in six relative enterprises in the town of Barcellona P.G. like restaurants, bars and pastry.
Firstly, from 17th of September until 20th of September, participants had theoretical cooking courses and visits at the Masterchef Restaurant. Participants learned some of homemade Sicilian recipes. They learned also about the table service, employee training and operational procedures. This training week was very useful because the trainees were acquainted with the local cuisine traditions, learned some useful tricks and recipes this all by actively learning from the professionals and trying many different local gastronomy wonders.
From 23rd of September, the participants started their internships in six different enterprises.
All participants were working five days per week and a minimum of five fours per day. All the trainees during the course learned to perform tasks in the kitchen under the supervision of senior chefs and had the opportunity to understand how to prepare traditional and the most popular Italian dishes.
Cultural Programme
During the weekends and their leisure time, the participants had a very interesting intercultural program: excursions, Happy Hours etc. Our participants had the opportunity to explore beauty of Sicily by visiting such places as Milazzo, Park Museum Jalari, Palermo, Cefalù and Taormina.
Internship
- Masterchef
- Marius il Ristorante
- Marius Pub
- Taverna
- Saint Honorè
- U Funnu
General Skills and Competencies Acquired:
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources in the field related;
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: learning on developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others;
- Development of specialized Italian language skills;
- Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems;
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making;
- Developing social perspectives and being aware of reactions of other co-workers and supervisors;
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying and taking the time to understand the points being made.
Evaluation of the project
The evaluation of the project is excellent. Employees of the A Rocca Association and persons involved in this project hope it was an enriched and useful experience for all the participants. The monitoring team did its best in order to satisfy the expectations of each participants and to ensure the communication with the sending organization at each stage of the project. In order to reach this, there were two days of evaluation – one after the first week and the other at the final days.
They had chance to see the way of working in Sicily. Certainly, they had an opportunity to get to know a lot of useful information about the functioning of Sicilian enterprises, which are related to cooking. Those participants who had a previous experience in the field of cooking and culinary also could compare all the similarities and differences of these related enterprises in Sicily and Croatia. All participants gained worthy experience in working in team, cooperation with colleagues and individual work according to the individual skills of the each candidate.
At the end of the project, participants received A Rocca placement certificate and Europass.
Topmost, participants gained professionally experience in their sector, so that they will be able in the future to deal with the cooking as professionals and they will be more competitive in the labour market in Croatia.
Conclusion
Our monitoring team did its best in order to satisfy the expectations of each participants. We were always ready to offer help, advices and solve any doubts; since our office had guaranteed a 24-hour availability, in any case they needed some assistance.
Consequently, the participants seemed to be satisfied with this project. According to their opinion, it was an interesting and useful experience. We hope they found inspiration and got new ideas about how to deal with their future career in their country. We are satisfied because due to the participation in the programme, the participants could enrich their professional experience.
Moreover, participants had opportunity to explore new horizons by fully integrating in Sicilian culture and meeting many new friends from Italy and from the other parts of world. In addition, all the group of participants had become good friends, is still meeting each other and exchanging their experiences after the project.
Our team is very satisfied with the participant’s involvement in the project and personal interest of each person entailed. We hope we can continue our cooperation with Croatian Employment Service, Regional Office Karlovac.