Winners Bakery at Alwarpet, launched in 2004 is a project set up as a tripartite arrangement between the Chennai Corporation, Chennai Culinary Institute (run by Hot Breads) and the Rotary Club of Madras East (RCME).
Boys and girls, basically school dropouts, undergo a rigorous six month course in baking, where they are taught completely free of cost. In fact, they are served breakfast and lunch at the premises and also given a nominal stipend every month. The total project costs around Rs. 30 lakh with imported machinery.
The huge demand for qualified bakers ensures placement and the bakery items prepared here are sold and the proceeds, in turn, fund the club’s charitable activities. The products are marketed under the brand “WINNERS” and in the last few years WINNERS has lived true to its name. This programme is extremely encouraging given its appropriate job-oriented nature.
Rtn, Jayanthi Govindan, President, RCME said, “Other than school dropouts and underprivileged, we have now enrolled a new stream of students from the CSI school for Deaf. Our idea is to bring a vocational skill to these special children and enable them to be self sufficient and self reliant on their abilities to lead a normal life in the society. With the food industry and retail trade poised for growth in India in the coming decade, this project will be helpful to many poor students who seek jobs in this line. RCME jointly with Rotary Club of Chennai Capital is doing this service.”
