Corporate
The last session of Youth Academy Italia, the contest sponsored by Simonelli Group that offers six scholarships to ignite the knowledge and aspirations of young people in the coffee industry, has ended. Simonelli Group’s goal, in fact, is to introduce young minds into the coffee industry as professionals. Youth Academy Italia 2024 offered the 6 participants the opportunity to take the five modules of the SCA Coffee Skills Program, comprising the three levels of the Barista module and the first level of the other modules. Along the way, students had the opportunity to receive mentoring and training from industry experts, participate in innovative challenges, network, and earn credits toward the SCA Skills Diploma.
The initiative saw young talents confront each other with passion and determination, laying the groundwork for their future in the coffee world and helping to shape the industry with new ideas and professionalism. Here is the account of their experience in Youth Academy Italy 2024.
Diego Bustamante Prado works as a bartender in a hotel restaurant in Bergamo and is a student at the Faculty of Gastronomic Sciences. Its goal is to bring coffee knowledge to the restaurant world. “I think the great value of Youth Academy is the team of trainers and all the professionals who were involved. I could have taken the same courses anywhere, but the knowledge, passion, and experience that the Youth Academy trainers have passed on to us is definitely more valuable to me.”
A few years ago Azzurra Pollini approached the world of specialty coffee, “which captured me right away. I always had the desire to combine my studies (Tecnico dei Servizi Socio Sanitari, ed.) with my passion I was aiming for professional growth in the coffee sector and Youth Academy Italia was an opportunity not to be missed. Thanks to the knowledge acquired with Youth Academy I can continue working on my project: to offer a training course on coffee dedicated to frail people for reintegration into the world of work.”
Chef de Rang in a starred restaurant and responsible for coffee and infusions proposals, Andrea Bianchini enrolled in Youth Academy “to broaden my vision on coffee. Youth Academy has allowed me to get to know different realities and companies in the coffee industry and, above all, to compare myself with great experts in the field. All this has allowed me to grow. I also experienced all the benefits of using the latest technology for milk extraction and milk assembly to be able to offer a unique sensory experience in the cup quickly and easily.”
Ari Asioli works in the family roasting company, taking care of the commercial area in particular. For him, Youth Academy is “engaging, dynamic and focused. I have deepened and refined my skills, and through discussions with fellow students and various experts, I have broadened my view on the world of coffee.”
I was coming from a motivational and work break from coffee – Erald Gjikola says. “Resuming after about 4 years, getting to know more closely realities like Simonelli Group, discovering Coffe Knowledge Hub and Youth Academy was a turning point, almost indicating to me that re-entering the coffee industry was the right thing to do, regardless of the outcome of the application. I find there is a lot of value in companies investing in knowledge sharing, providing scholarships every year and giving young people the opportunity to better themselves. It’s a cutting-edge choice.” The path offered by Youth Academy, Erald continued, “has led me to have a broader view of the professional potential that coffee can offer, as well as a more mature awareness of my skills.”
Mara Fazio is a barista, “I was making coffee every day, but I was not satisfied: I wanted to bring more quality into every cup I served. Youth Academy helped me to achieve this goal faster: it offered me the knowledge and skills I needed to be more aware of my important job. The choice of coffee, of equipment is crucial to be able to offer the customer a unique and quality experience.”
Simonelli Group, through its Youth Academy program, invites people to embrace their potential and make their mark in the world of coffee through the knowledge and experience offered. Visit www.simonelligroup.com , follow the LinkedIn page and join us on this exciting journey of discovery, innovation and excellence! Let us prepare a future in which young minds are at the forefront of the growth of the coffee industry.
