Personal growth opportunities can encompass a wide array of activities and approaches, tailored to an individual’s interests, strengths, and goals. The key is consistent effort and dedication towards self-improvement and development.
The workshop organised by AgroBio.Int in Cameroun in August 2023, is a factual example of the concept explained above.
The participants of the workshop were 16 youths from age of 6 to 17:
- 7 living in Cameroon
- 6 living in Germany
- 3 living in England
A cocoa transformation workshop for youths can offer a range of valuable learnings, providing insights into various aspects of the cocoa production process and its transformation into different products.
Here are several key points that participants learn from such a workshop:
1. Understanding Cocoa Cultivation & Harvesting
- Cocoa Plant Lifecycle – Participants can learn about the growth stages of cocoa plants, understanding how cocoa beans are cultivated and harvested.
- Agricultural Practices – Insights into sustainable farming techniques, including soil management, pest control, and best practices for optimal cocoa bean yield.
2. Processing & Fermentation
- Bean Fermentation – Understanding the importance of fermentation in cocoa bean processing and its impact on flavour development.
- Drying and Storage – Learning about proper drying methods and storage conditions crucial for preserving cocoa bean quality.
3. Cocoa Bean Quality & Grading
- Quality Assessment – Understanding the criteria for assessing cocoa bean quality, including aroma, colour, size, and moisture content.
- Grading Systems – Learning about different grading systems and the significance of quality grades in the cocoa industry.
4. Chocolate Production Process
- Bean-to-Bar Process – Overview of the chocolate-making process, starting from cocoa bean processing to the production of chocolate bars.
- Ingredients and Formulation – Understanding the ingredients used in chocolate production and their roles in achieving different flavours and textures.
5. Value Addition & Product Diversification
- Product Development – Exploring different cocoa-based products beyond chocolate, such as cocoa butter, cocoa powder, or specialty chocolates.
- Entrepreneurial Opportunities – Discovering potential business ideas and entrepreneurial opportunities in the cocoa value chain, such as starting a small-scale chocolate-making business.
6. Sustainability & Ethical Practices
- Sustainable Practices – Learning about sustainable cocoa production practices, including fair trade, environmental conservation, and community development.
- Social Impact – Understanding the socio-economic impact of ethical cocoa sourcing and fair trade practices on cocoa-growing communities.
7. Hands-On Activities & Practical Learning
- Processing Demonstrations – Engaging in hands-on activities or demonstrations related to fermenting, drying, or roasting cocoa beans, if feasible.
- Tasting Sessions – Experiencing the sensory aspects of cocoa by participating in chocolate tastings to understand flavour profiles and quality attributes.
8. Collaboration & Networking
- Industry Connections – Opportunities to connect with experts, farmers, or industry professionals, fostering networking and potential mentorship.
- Collaborative Projects – Encouraging collaborative projects or group activities to brainstorm
innovative ideas for sustainable cocoa transformation.
- Individual professional opportunity – The children could find the connection of their dream work within supply chain.
- Cultural exchange – Mindset, vision, free thinking and vision perception of the world, traditions, history are some elements to interconnecting the participants
By participating in a cocoa transformation workshop, youth can gain a holistic understanding of the cocoa industry, from cultivation to value-added product development, while also appreciating the importance of sustainability, quality, and entrepreneurship within the cocoa value chain.