Lunch preparation at “Different Taste” in October 2019.
SABA--Since the inception of Saba Comprehensive School’s (SCS’s) vocational education programme there is a need for proper training facilities that are current with industry standards. Due to the size of the island and the small scale of the local business community, it is challenging to find each interested student a business situation in which they can learn.
In November 2018, the management of Chez Bubba bistro started a training social café named “Different Taste”, in collaboration with Saba Life Plus. The programme at that time was designed for physically and mentally challenged people in Saba.
Different Taste will re-open its doors at Chez Bubba restaurant in Windwardside per January 7, 2021, as SCS, together with Chez Bubba, will build on the strengths of the earlier version of the café and will have a customised approach designed to create a working and learning environment for SCS’s vocational students in preparing them for work, especially in the hospitality sector.
The objective of the programme is to provide students the opportunity to learn in a real-life environment, with hands-on participation, real-time problem solving, accountability, ownership of the results, and coaching. This structured approach is considered the best way to learn skills for successful employment in the hospitality sector.
In February 2018, the SCS opened Office416 in Windwardside to provide SCS students the opportunity to learn in a business-like environment and serve real customers. Office416 is also involved by means of providing copying services to Different Taste.
“We are very happy with the companies that we already collaborate with,” stated SCS principal Anton Hermans. “Some businesses are simply too small and others are not interested or able to have a trainee. … A trainee costs time and money. In the current economic environment that is still recovering from a post-hurricane recession and further exasperated by the COVID-19 pandemic, most businesses are not yet able to take on anything extra.”
Different Taste will be open every Thursday for takeout and dinner. Gift vouchers can be purchased via Office416, Chez Bubba and SCS’s administration department.
