Ten students in crisp, red chef’s hats and their teachers greeted Friends of Cozumel volunteers into their cooking class.

Students in the CAM Laboral cooking class are grateful for donations of ingredients that allow them to learn different cooking methods.

“When visitors come in they get to practice social and language skills,” said Nayeli, the CAM Laboral psychologist. “Everyone is welcome here because it’s important for classes to learn values, empathy and friendship.”

CAM Laboral is a school for young people with special physical or developmental needs. The 22 students enrolled this year range in age from 17 to 25.

“When we see they can practice social skills here,” Nayeli said, “they’re ready to practice them in their community.”

Lorie helps students measure ingredients.

Students worked together to make a recipe provided by FOC volunteer Ilene. A sighted student helped a visually impaired student make their way to the stove to help stir the mixture. Another student received applause from their peers after measuring an ingredient correctly. And all of them shared the anticipation of being able to taste their success once the cookies were done.

Here’s the recipe they made:

No-Bake Chocolate Cookies

No-bake cookie dough.

Mix all ingredients except oatmeal and vanilla together. Boil one minute. Remove from heat. Quickly stir in oatmeal and vanilla and quickly drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto wax paper. Cool and enjoy.
 

Thanks to donors who provide ingredients.

Add a little friendship to your list of cooking ingredients.

The hardest part is waiting to eat the cookies.

Anne’s CAM School Experience:

“After a late night offering repurposing/recycling workshops at Vida Abundante Church, I was part of a group to head out the following morning at 7:30 for our next community activity. We went to the CAM school for young people to share some new class projects with them.

While half the students worked on no-bake cookies with half our team, my group helped the rest of the students decorate a cloth cinch bag. Using paints and rubber stamps, the students created lovely bags in cheerful colors. I was able to refresh my Spanish vocabulary with words for paint colors, and the students learned a few English words such as “seahorse” and “palm tree.”

After about an hour and a half, the groups switched places, so, by the time we left a couple of hours later, all the students had done both projects.

I was touched, once again, by the warmth of the lovely people of Cozumel and by generosity of the Friends of Cozumel.”  ~ Anne from Illinois

A student paints a stamp to press onto her cloth bag.

Lynn helps a student see his project with his hands.

Lori (center) helps a student.

Thanks to donors who contributed stamps and paints students used to create personalized cinch bags. “The kids loved it and showed they could produce a beautiful keepsake,” said volunteer Hettie.

~ Phyllis from Nebraska