Shades of Sweet Boutique Chocolate Enterprise that Empowers Emunah`s Neve Michael Children

The Shades of Sweet chocolate enterprise at Emunah`s Neve Michael is a social undertaking intended to empower youth at risk through a process of production and sales of praline chocolate by the teenage participants in the program. The social enterprise is supported by a professional chocolatier, who enables the teenagers to partake in all phases of production including preparation, branding, marketing and sales to end customers. As part of their business training the teenagers learn concepts related to the chocolate field and get weekly experience in the preparation of chocolate products, with a special emphasis on refined motor skills, behavioral adjustments and life skills which are essential as a whole for successful work in this special framework.

Shades of Sweet provides training, empowerment and employment for four youth groups in Neve Michael, each consisting of around twelve teenage boys and girls. The training period starts with two months of instruction under a professional chocolatier, after which the youngsters start producing the products independently and lawfully work in the enterprise.

All of the products are made by handiwork with high quality raw materials and the close instruction of a professional chocolatier. The products are designated for sale, for three reasons:

 The teenagers know that they are creating products that compete respectably in the chocolate market, which helps them with their personal empowerment.

The income from the sales enables the lawful payment of hourly wages to the youth who completed training.

Another area of activity is operating chocolate workshops in companies and organizations. The workshops are run by a professional chocolatier with the help of Neve Michael youngsters who get paid for their work.