THE GRAINES DE PÂTISSIER PROGRAM
Graines de Pâtissier is a pre-apprenticeship program that allows young people who are currently not in employment to try out the role of pastry chef and find a potential mentor for their apprenticeship. With this program, the Valrhona Foundation aims to connect young people who are planning their careers with makers looking for reliable, highly motivated apprentices. The program has welcomed 314 young people since 2017, 45% of whom had started an apprenticeship by 2022.
The Don Gino Rigoldi Foundation is an Italian non-profit whose objective is to help young people of all backgrounds find their way in society and the job market. Inspired by Graines de Pâtissier, Valrhona Italy has decided to set up some basic pastry and chocolate courses with the organization. In 2022, 32 hours of training were offered over two weeks to nine young men and one young woman in Turin.