KUCHING: A total of 22 students received their certificates for completing the Entrepreneurship Course in Food Processing Skills in Bakery and Frozen Food yesterday.
The course, organised by the agro-based industry and family economy unit under the Department of Agriculture Sarawak started in 2012, aimed to train and provide students with the opportunity to get hands-on experience on the basic skills in bakery and entrepreneurship.
Dayang Shakinawaty Awg Putra, 22, from Sri Aman said she was grateful to the government for offering such courses.
“Without the government and teachers, I will not be able to gain knowledge on baking,” she said.
When asked how she knew about the course, she said her family told her about it.
“I have always loved to bake, and this has been a great opportunity for me to know more on the skills in baking,” she said.
Meanwhile, Elly Mellannie Peter said that she had gained a lot of experience throughout the course.
“I have benefited a lot, and have learnt on how to make buns, layered cakes, and one of my favourites is the cheese cake,” she said.
The 20-year-old Kenyah from Miri said she planned to request financial assistance from the government so she could get an oven and start selling her cakes online.
Dovenia Laura Jack, 20, from Niah, said she was very happy for the opportunity given by the government.
“I never had the experience to bake cakes, however during the course my teachers had taught me a lot, and now I am able to bake my own biscuit,” she said.
She also said she had planned to start up a bakery, but would be looking for job opportunity in the bakery line first to gain experience before starting a business.
Rocky Batok, 18, said he was glad to be part of the course, as he had always loved to bake.
The Berawan boy from Miri, said that he knew of the course offered from his relatives and applied for it.
“There is nothing to be ashamed of for those who love to bake,” he said, adding that more males should apply for the course.
“I am halfway chasing my dreams. After this I plan to study culinary arts in Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara (IBKN) in Miri,” he said.
Meanwhile, Keziah Layu Paterus, 19, from Kuching, said that she never thought of learning to bake, but after attending the course she developed an interest in baking.
“After this, I also plan to study more on culinary arts in IBKN, and once I complete my studies, I want to set up my own mini bakery and do the business from home.”
A total of 20 female and two male students completed the six months training at the Agro-based industry-training centre (PL-IAT) at Jalan Semenggok.
For more information on the course, visit www.doa.gov.my.
Interested applicants may also download the application form from the website and send it to any agriculture department of the respective districts.
Selected applicants will have to go through an interview session before being accepted into the course.
