AUCKLAND SCHOOLS COOK UP A STORM TO SUPPORT CHILDREN WITH CANCER
Auckland hospitality and cookery school Ignite Colleges has joined forces with a group of Auckland high schools to raise money for Kiwi kids with cancer.
Students from Year 10 up to Year 13 from Mt Albert Grammar School, Papakura High School, Lynfield College, Tangaroa College, Aorere College and De La Salle College cooked up a storm at Ignite Colleges in Manukau, creating a mouth-watering feast for 85 guests, and raising more than $8000 for the Child Cancer Foundation.
The High School Hospitality Dinner started as an initiative that Aaron D'Souza the Food Technology and Hospitality teacher at De La Salle college in Mangere pitched to Anna Irvive from The Child Cancer Foundation.
"After a couple of days Anna called me back and said that The Child Cancer Foundation loved the idea and gave us the green light" said Aaron. "I wanted to offer this opportunity to more Hospitality students so I extended the invitation and opportunity to students from other schools to join in the initiative. I hope that this experience will give all these students a valuable insight into the hospitality industry and encourage them to consider it as a career pathway.
With the the right amount of support and funding I hope to be able to continue running this event annually to give more students this opportunity. None of which could be achieved without all the generous support from our sponsors."
Anna Irvine, Child Cancer Foundation’s Business Development Manager Northern Region says the foundation is thrilled to be the recipient charity for the inaugural High School Hospitality Dinner.
“It was incredibly special to have students preparing this dinner to raise funds for children affected by cancer. This event was unique and a wonderful opportunity to showcase students’ skills alongside showing their willingness to help others.”
Several budding chefs from each high school were selected, motivated by a passion for cooking and a strong desire to contribute in meaningful ways to their communities.
Says former chef and De La Salle High School teacher Aaron Dsouza, “I use hospitality as a vehicle not only to train students to prepare them for the industry, but also to build and develop their leadership potential. These students have come to learn the true meaning of hospitality, and the scope and impact it has on others – not only from a service aspect but also a charitable perspective.”
When Ignite Colleges General Manager Jasbir Kaur was approached to join the initiative she didn’t hesitate to accept.
Says Kaur: “We have state-of-the-art kitchens and event facilities as well as skilled hospitality and cookery students who are keen to give back to the community. We were delighted to be able to host and participate in an event that supports such a worthy cause”.
Guests were treated to a three-course dinner including innovative dishes such as five spice roast duck and vegetable rice paper wraps, and slow roasted horopito chicken breast stuffed with pancetta and buffalo mozzarella. The dishes were technical and gave students the opportunity to demonstrate their culinary prowess.
In addition to providing table service and assistance with the cooking, Ignite students brewed their own beer, which was served on the night.
“As well as raising money for children with cancer and their families, this event provides a fantastic platform for budding young chefs to get a taste of life in the hospitality industry,” says Kaur.
Check out more info on the High School Hospitality Dinner on their Facebook page here
By: Vanessa Trethewey & Aaron D'Souza