Shops with Marco Polo

On Wednesday, we were invited to work in th shops! This was a new experience for me, last time we were here, CMT didn't offer that experience. So we started out in a classroom with Marco Polo who gave us a brief orientation of the vocational training programs that they offer. Marco polo fist came to the CMT in 1978 and has been here ever since. He coordinates allt he vocational training programs that the center offers.he explained the tracks that the members take. After completing 6 years of elementary school, learning to read and write and do math, the members shadow in each shop for 6 weeks. At the end of 6 weeks, they are asked to choose which one they'd like to pursue. Once they've chosen, they study in that shop for 3-4 years while still continuing their basic education. So by the time children are 15-17 years old, they have a trade and can they get a job in the world, after passing an exam given by the union that they will join. Adults can also join a shop, they do school in the mornings to learn to read and write and then o shops at night. There are several chooices for them: carpentry, metal mechanics, automechanics, bakery, beauty salon or sewing.The kids in our group were invited to choose one of the shops to work in and then go with a representative from that shop to work for the day. I choose to work in the panadería (bakery). I worked with Carla (who will be receiving her certificate soon) and Oscar who has been the bakery manager since last October. We made all sorts of differently shaped rolls, gusanos and enrollados, plus a type of sugar cookie, called bostones (sort of like palmiers). At 12 noon we all took a lunch break until 2pm. At lunch we ate at the restaurant next store and returned to work at 2pm. Then we made chicken empanadas! All morning long, Oscar had been cooking a chicken and peas and carrots for the filling (the peas they use here are dried so it takes a long time to reconstitute them). The fillings was anchored oil, butter, onion, garlic, green bell pepper, sautéed then chicken, peas and carrots were mixed in. After that flour was added to the pan with chicken broth to thicken it to a paste. The dough was already rolled out and cut into circles. We brushed the edges of the dough with egg, filled them, folded them over and brushed the tops with egg. Baked them at 200 C for 20 minutes. They turned out a golden brown!While I was in the bakery, some of the kids ana Maria were in the beauty salon. Both Jonah and Chris had manicures, Maria got her hair straightened, and Chris learned how to braid hair. Lena went back later and got her hair straightened later that day. Matteo and Aidan worked in the metal shop, welding and zack worked in automechanics. It was an interesting day, we got a first hand view of what the members experience on a daily basis. Oh, on more thing about Oscar - he told me that he has four children here at the center and is marketed. Although he appreciates that the center taught him to be a baker, he doesn't want to do that forever. He takes classes in the evening and is studying to become a lawyer! He has set up a bakery at his house to help support himself and his family.