Programs - Open Gate International

CULINARY PROGRAM

12-WEEK ACCREDITED CULINARY PROGRAM

Cultivate Talent, Find Purpose, Live Confidently

Our US culinary program in Orange County Juvenile Hall is truly the first of its kind – a replicable model that gives incarcerated young men experience in an in-demand trade. Vulnerable youth who would otherwise be released into the world with no life skills are equipped with the practical tools and invaluable trauma-informed life coaching to transform their lives and stay off the streets and out of jail.

TRAINING INCLUDES

Kitchen Introduction, Cooking
Techniques and Baking

Recipes, Menus
and Quality Control

Kitchen Brigade Preparation

LIFE SKILLS

Maintaining a Positive Attitude

Recognizing Your Strengths

Working in a Team

LOCAL

WORKING TO TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF SYSTEM-IMPAIRED YOUTH

Headquartered in Orange County, California, our U.S. based culinary program enables graduates to make positive contributions to local employers and communities across Orange County. To date, OGI has graduated over 200 students who have secured employment at restaurants, country clubs, and hotels throughout the county. We have placed 76% of eligible program graduates in culinary industry positions.

In 2021, our program shifted to serve in our local juvenile corrections programs. Our culinary classes hosted for young men serving time in Orange County Juvenile Hall are truly the first of their kind. Our model is designed to wrap around the long-term needs of these vulnerable youth: not only do our chefs-in-training receive valuable in-demand job skills, they also are equipped to address their emotional and relational needs through trauma-informed life coaching. Our goal is that, through our help, none of our graduates will return to jail or prison.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Students must complete all curriculum assignments, earn a passing grade on required exams, and maintain good overall attendance. Successful graduates will be awarded a Certificate of Completion and will be eligible for placement assistance. Graduates must independently acquire their California Food Handler’s card prior to graduation.

INTERNATIONAL

To create opportunities for all who need them, all over the world, we collaborate with nonprofit partners already working to support those from vulnerable life situations in their cities. OGI assists these partners in establishing and implementing the OGI culinary training program. Working with organizations in each location, we tailor the curriculum to the local culture. OGI trains the chefs, mentors and staff to operate all three tiers of the program to prepare students for success after graduation.

MOLDOVA

We’ve formed alliances with local non-profits and the Moldovan government to establish culinary programs in Chisinau, a regional women’s prison, as well as in rural villages outside the city. In an effort to address the overwhelming orphan population, OGI has also developed a robust Child Welfare Division to bring much needed training to government leaders and local care providers in the region.

CAMBODIA

We collaborate with Agape International Missions (AIM), a nonprofit that works directly with the Cambodian government to conduct raids on and arrest human traffickers. Together, we’ve provided support to four victims of human trafficking through teaching them culinary and life skills and by helping them secure job placement upon graduating.

INDIA

Our partner Vision Rescue works to change the destructive mindset of “slum mentality,” the belief that you are destined to live in extreme poverty, through education, vocational training, healthcare and more. We teamed up with Vision Rescue to help strengthen their existing structures and to provide resources for their first ever Culinary Training Institute.

MEXICO

Teaming up with El Pozo de Vida and Sahl+Uno in Mexico, we’ve been afforded the opportunity to establish a 12-week culinary training course to help provide women ages 16 to 38 who’ve experienced sexual exploitation.