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In many countries, traditional education systems are not able to adapt to the needs of all young people. Factors like learning difficulties, financial barriers or a lack of resources can mean that some students are left out of the school system. However, certain organisations work to offer these young people new opportunities and guarantee their access to education and vocational training.
In Mauritius, ANFEN is one of those organisations. At RIU, we feel a strong commitment to education and social inclusion, which is why we have decided to support their culinary training programme.
Would you like to know how ANFEN gives thousands of young people a second chance? We will tell you everything you need to know.
What is ANFEN and why is its work so important?
The Adolescent Non-Formal Education Network (ANFEN) was founded in 2000 as a result of a UNICEF initiative to support young people who are excluded from the education system. The network currently has 21 centres in Mauritius and Rodrigues, offering alternative education to 1,000 teens every year.
“When society welcomes these young people, we all benefit from their resilience, creativity and as-yet-undiscovered talents. We must change our perspective: stop seeing vulnerability as a burden and recognise it as an opportunity for collective progress.”
ANFEN
Why is their model unconventional? Because it is based on inclusive and personalised education, focused on improving literacy, mathematical skills and technical training. It also provides psychosocial support to help young people integrate into society and the workforce.
For ANFEN it is very important to combine good practical teaching with skills and values that help young people to develop: “We want our students to become well-rounded individuals, capable of excelling both professionally and personally, and we help them to adapt to the working environment and to life beyond it. This holistic approach is what really sets them up for sustainable success.”
How does RIU collaborate with ANFEN?
RIU arrived on the wonderful island of Mauritius in 2014. We currently have two hotels there, the Riu Palace Mauritius and the Riu Turquoise, at the foot of the imposing Le Morne Brabant mountain. As we have mentioned previously on the RIU Blog, as a company we aim to positively impact both local communities and the environment in the areas where we operate. Through our Proudly Committed strategy, we want to collaborate with initiatives whose values we share.
This year we are very happy because we have been able to sign up to two very interesting projects in Mauritius: one is with the Coral Garden Conservation initiative and the other, as you may have guessed, is with ANFEN, to fund part of their culinary training programme at the Aline Leal Culinary School.
But the question is: why is ANFEN focusing on a catering programme? Very simple. ANFEN carried out a study with the consultancy DCDM Research that helped them to understand exactly what young people want to achieve with their education. And the results were very clear: employability and financial independence.
And that is exactly how the Aline Leal Culinary School (École Culinaire Aline Leal or ECAL) came about, set up as part of ANFEN’s employability programme with the aim of offering students a nationally recognised qualification. In Mauritius, it is very difficult to get into technical programmes due to the strict entry requirements. This programme solves that problem and is a great opportunity for all young people looking to study a technical specialism.
ANFEN tells us that they selected food preparation for a very simple reason: its high potential for employability in the thriving tourism and hospitality industry in Mauritius. In addition, it is a practical skill that is widely applicable and of great personal value to students.
Kevin Munisami’s story: From educational exclusion to a bright future
Kevin Munisami is a living example of how ANFEN’s alternative education can transform lives. After not fitting into the traditional school system and not obtaining the required results in primary school, Kevin felt lost and left with no opportunities.
Thanks to the École Familiale de l’Ouest, a centre affiliated with ANFEN, he was able to improve his literacy and maths skills. When ANFEN opened ECAL, Kevin saw it as an opportunity to follow his passion for cooking. With the support of the teaching team and thanks to his determination, he managed to get a distinction at the end of his course.
“Many at-risk young people feel invisible, so sometimes just having someone there to listen, without judging, can make a big difference.”
ANFEN
Today, Kevin works in a five-star hotel, contributes financially to his family and has regained his confidence. Here is an interview in which Kevin explains more about his experience at ECAL: “ANFEN reignited my dream of becoming a chef after having failed at school.”
This story demonstrates how valuable inclusive education is and how important it is to give young people who have failed at school a second chance, all they need is someone who believes in their potential.
“Kevin is an example of how failure in the traditional education system does not define a person’s future.” ANFEN
How can you keep up to date with ANFEN’s work and collaborate with them?
En RIU estamos muy orgullosos de poder colaborar con organizaciones que promuevan el desarrollo At RIU we are very proud to be able to collaborate with organisations that encourage the social and professional development of individuals. ANFEN is a prime example of this and that is why we would like to invite you to follow their great work on their social media and website.
Your support, however you can help, not only benefits ANFEN students, but also contributes to strengthening the Mauritian community, making a very positive impact.
Thanks for your help!
