“Des Étoiles et des Femmes” makes cooking accessible to all
In Toulouse, 11 women from the city’s priority neighborhoods (QPV) joined the first promotion of the “Des Étoiles et des Femmes” scheme, which allows them to follow free cooking training, in conjunction with chefs, thanks to which they will obtain a certificate of professional aptitude (CAP).
11 women and 11 chefs gathered this Monday, December 5 around a gastronomic buffet organized in the premises of the restaurant “Mordus” in the Saint-Agne district of Toulouse to celebrate together the launch of the first promotion “Stars and Women”.
Since October, these 11 women from the city’s priority neighborhoods (QPV) have been following a free cooking training within the CFA of Blagnac to learn, in the company of catering professionals, to become real chefs.
Connecting women and chefs
The first objective of the Stars and Women program is to promote the return to employment of women from the QPVeven though, according to a report from the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee), half of them do not have a professional activity.
This integration into employment is done through vocational training, ” in connection with the chefs of Toulouse who agreed to take part in the process,” explains Alice Pavillet, project coordinator in Toulouse. Among them : Mo Bashirbut also the chefs of the restaurants Rocher de la Vierge, Le Soulier, Solides, Une table à deux, le Vélo sentimental, la Ravigote, Cartouches, etc.
Obtain a CAP in cooking
Concretely, from October to June, the beneficiaries carry out work-study training. Three weeks consisting of cooking lessons offered from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. by the teaching staff of the CFA de Blagnac. Then, for the next two weeks, on a immersion in the kitchens of partner chefs. And so on. During their apprenticeship, students receive an allowance paid by the Occitania region up to 680 euros. All the equipment, such as kitchen clothes, knife case and even a computer, are provided to them.
The key to these nine months of accelerated training: practical and written exams will lead to theObtaining a professional aptitude certificate (CAP), whose course normally lasts two years. “This return to school approach is a source of pride for these women, aged 26 to 53, who have been out of school for several years,” adds Alice Pavillet.
Assistance with the integration into employment of women
In addition to helping students obtain a CAP de cuisine, the members of the scheme will continue to support them until they return to work, even the creation of their own structure. “At the beginning of October, two students told us they wanted to open their restaurant. After two months of training, they are now eight. It’s very encouraged,” rejoices the project coordinator: “We will stay by their side until they find a professional situation that suits themeither with the opening of their establishment or after having joined an existing brigade”.
At the end of the training, it is also possible that some students will be hired in the restaurants in which they have completed their work-study program. “We are already witnessing the creating great stories and real connections between these women and their chief trainers. In June, when the promotion will graduate, we will discuss with them to see if they wish to recruit the students or if they will prefer to continue their journey with us in order to welcome the promotion 2023-2024”, continues Alice Pavillet.
Childcare, digital divide…
In Toulouse, two associations support the kitchen training system “Of Stars and Women”. The first one, Beautiful Bowls, has been fighting for more than two years against waste and food insecurity in Toulouse. The second, Scop Egalitere, based in the Mirail district, has been chaperoning women in their entrepreneurial project for more than 30 years. Both have the mission of supporting the students of the system in their professional, but also personal career.
“We seek to leverage several barriers identified with these audiences, such as childcare, access to mobility, the digital divide, or even, in some cases, domestic violence…”, lists Alice Pavillet, also a salaried member of Les Belles Gamelles. Thus, volunteers help women, for example, to find accommodation or to take out a season ticket for public transport. Young mothers who raise their children alone can also arrange with the chiefs to provide only lunchtime servicesand not those of the evening.
“Stars and Women” was born in Marseille
The “Stars and Women” project was created in 2015 in Marseille, at the initiative of starred chef Alain Ducasse. “The system has shown such good results in terms of obtaining diplomas and finding employment for the people supported that the structure has decided toopen several branches throughout the national territory “says Alice Pavillet.
This program is now present in 13 cities, including Marseille and recently Toulouse, but also Montpellier, Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Nice, Strasbourg, Arles, or in the Basque Country and Île-de-France (three structures). The CAP success rate is 70% overall. Among the graduates, 98% found a job in catering following their training.
A new start in Toulouse in the fall of 2023
Les Belles Gamelles and the Scop Égalitère work in conjunction with the associations present in the priority neighborhoods of the city in order to identify the people most likely to benefit from the “Des Étoiles et des Femmes” scheme. “The recruitment of the next class will begin this summer. It is a long process, which requires many exchanges with the women. They also meet upstream with the chiefs to get to know each other and identify each other’s needs before the start of the school year, ”admits Alice Pavillet.
According to the project coordinator, only two criteria are necessary to insert “Des Étoiles et des femmes”: the passion for cooking and the desire to learn. From next year, even language should no longer be a barrier. Indeed, Alice Pavillet is currently negotiating with Employment center the establishment of French classes in a foreign language, “for a quick refresher before the start of the training sessions”.