In the FEDES gastronomy courses, which are taught by licensed chefs, students learn the many aspects of creating appetizing foods along with proper food handling, hygiene, and safety techniques.

The FEDES Vocational Training School has a training and production unit geared toward providing skills for “institutional catering services operators” which employs the latest cooking technology.

Students gain the skills they need to work in high-end restaurants and other modern food processing companies.   

Among the courses offered are:

• Bartending
• Catering
• Dining Services (which includes a technical English course)
• Baking and Confectionery
• International Cuisine
• Kitchen Hygiene and Food Handling
• Pastry making

The young students also receive computer, job competency, and personal development classes, as well as a short internship in a food service company to gain work experience and ease their transition into the labor market. Many of them go on to be hired by the same companies who gave them the internships, having proved themselves and their skills.

Thanks to the Chilean government’s SENCE program, students receive a subsidy on food, transport, or tools for their trade. FEDES also provides business management and marketing classes to assist them in their entrepreneurial efforts. Many of the graduates now have their own thriving micro businesses and bring a significant income to their families through the sale of their products.