October 2018: The first ever junior master chef competition
amongst class six student groups was organized on October 9 at the Tibetan
Children’s Village, Industrial Training Institute (ITI), Dehradun.
A total of 8 groups from the two sections of sixth grade
consisting of all the students participated in the event. Each group were
assessed on areas including taste and color of food, presentation, team work,
and question and answer. They were accompanied by ITI students to provide them with basic
support. The judges included three staffs, Mr. Negi, chef instructor of ITI as
the main judge who checked the overall work, philosophy teacher Ven. Geshe
Thekchok, and head master Mr. Tsultrim
Kalsang. During the event, the school principal Mr. Duke Tsering and assistant
headmaster Mr. Tsering Gonpo also attended to observe the event. Each team
cooked variety of food items which included
momo, chicken curry, beans, Indian biryani, rice, lentils, tacos, ema
datshi, mixed vegetable and others in the allotted two hours duration.
Team Food Festival comprising of Tenzin Dechen, Tenzin Choeying,
Tenzin Chemi, Tenzin Kunsang, and Tenzin Yeshi and the Yum-Yum Girl’s team with
Tenzin Sangmo, Tenzin Desal, and Tenzin Kunsel had tied to win the title of
this year’s master chef. The winners were felicitated by the chief guest Mr.
Jamyang Sherab and Mr. Negi, chef instructors at ITI and Mr. Mark from Belgium,
a staunch supporter of Tibetan cause and Mr. Tsultrim Kalsang, school
headmaster.
Leading up to the event, the students were also taken out to
market for grocery shopping. There, the students had first hand experience of
communicating with the shopkeepers, selecting good quality vegetables and
fruits, keeping a budget and expenditure
sheet and record of food ingredients needed for their dishes.
The students were filled with joy as they carried out their
tasks. One student noted, “it is good to experience something for the first
time which our parents have been doing for long.” Another student noted, “I had
a great time, making food is fun and interesting.” While many others expressed
that with the experience they will help their parents in cooking food during
the annual holiday.
According to the Mr. Tenzin Jamyang, who teaches the sixth grade
students, “we as teachers must ensure that learning becomes a joyful moment for
the budding students especially at this age group when they have an inquisitive
mind with full of energy and vigour. I know that we may not able to provide
such experiences everyday, but once a while we need to come up with things
which students can experience physically, socially, and emotionally. This, I
think will leave an indelible mark on the life-long learning curve of students
as well as teachers. The idea to take them to ITI first came from students and
I am so happy that they have expressed their thoughts freely to me.”
According to Mr. Jamyang Sherab, “while students learn theory
from their textbooks in schools, it is important to carry out the practicals as
well. The sixth graders have two chapters related to food and nutrients in
their study curriculum. This will be a wonderful practical session for them to
learn and to experience.”
The school heads led by principal Mr. Duke Tsering also appreciated
the educational program and expressed their strong support and desire to
organize such experiential educational learning in future as well.
The event was jointly organized by TCV ITI and TCV
School, Selaqui, and coordinated by Mr. Jamyang Sherab and Mr. Negi of TCV ITI,
and Mr. Tenzin Jamyang of TCV School, Selaqui.
This report was complied by
Mr. Tenzin Jamyang
