(ANS - Chambéry) - Develop a fixed price menu, organize a sale to people with disabilities, arrange a shop-window display - these were some of the activities of the students participating in the first work-training week organized by the Salesian High School in Costa de Beauregard.

The work-training week in the high school, held in the middle of April last, involved fourth year students of the Personal Services Department and the  Land, Horticulture and Landscape Department in a series of practical workshops, conferences, talks and activities related to their future professions.

Some of the Personal Services students worked with a chef to develop a fixed-price menu from planning right up to service in the dining room.  The students also got experience in selling to customers with disabilities. They learned how to anticipate difficulties and to handle situations in the best possible way. Other activities included decorating a shop-window, a conference on sign language, and a practical workshop on disability in which the students themselves experienced the problems of old age through a simulator.

They also had many visits to enhance their knowledge in the fields of horticulture and gardening. The students joined workers in arranging a showroom to display a wide range of natural stone materials. They also developed an artificial "wetland", visited some reclaimed urban coastal areas and were given an introduction to the principles of digital design.

To complete the training, there was an afternoon workshop during which a number of human resource professionals held mock interviews for jobs with the young people and provided them with valuable tips on how to behave on such occasions.

The students expressed great satisfaction at the end of the experience.  “The plasterers handled the trowel really well,” commented Jordan.  Mégane was very impressed by the simulation of Parkinson 's disability  that makes eating and drinking difficult. Baptiste particularly enjoyed the  professional tips on what to say and what not to say in an interview.

Published 08/05/2014