Edited from a submission by Sr. Luzia Kibonga Kibonga, Communications Coordinator, Angola

“This is my first order,” shared one woman taking part in the culinary and pastry program at the Centro de Formación Profesional Hermana M. Susan Chia in Luanda, Angola. Her words marked a step from learning in the classroom to preparing something for a customer—a transition that fellow participants were also beginning to make.

For those completing the course, the occasion marked both the end of their training and the beginning of opportunities to use their skills beyond the classroom. Daniel, their trainer and a longstanding partner-in-mission, reflected on the difference between where participants had started and what they could now do.

“Today we are grateful because we have reached our goal”, afirmó. “There is a real difference between when participants arrived and when they leave. Many will now be able to make sweets and take orders.”

Through his work at the center, Daniel helps women and young people develop skills that can open opportunities for employment and support their families. His message to the group looked beyond the celebration: continued practice would help them turn their training into results.

“Now that we are finishing the training, we ask you not to stop here, but to continue practicing,” Daniel urged.

From Training to First Orders

The participants’ own words showed how this next stage was already taking shape. For the woman announcing her first order, the skills developed during training were becoming something she could offer a customer.

A second participant was also ready to promote her work. “We are now taking orders,” she announced, before inviting people to bring their celebrations to life with her sweets: “Let’s sweeten our parties with Cátia’s charm!” Her invitation brought a personal voice to the program’s aim of helping people learn a profession and earn an income.

These brief testimonies reveal a practical milestone. Participants were beginning to present their products, accept requests, and use their skills in situations where they would need to meet customers’ expectations. Daniel’s encouragement to continue practicing spoke directly to that transition.

Practical Skills for Working Life

The culinary and pastry course is part of the center’s wider response to educational and employment needs in Luanda. Located in the Talatona area, the Good Shepherd ministry offers training in sewing and dressmaking, computer skills, English, Excel, hairstyling, and makeup. Literacy classes and academic support in mathematics and Portuguese provide further opportunities for learners to strengthen their foundations.

Having celebrated its tenth anniversary in May 2026, the center accompanies people from varied backgrounds, including women and young people facing economic or social barriers, as they develop practical skills and prepare for employment or income-generating work.

For these participants, first orders and invitations to customers show how the skills they have learned are beginning to create opportunities to earn.