Barmasters Empowered: Young people in Romania learn how to turn hospitality into a job and a stable future

When education becomes a real bridge between dream and reality, young people begin to truly believe in themselves. This does Barmasters Empowered – a training program that offers more than a course: opens doors to careers, offers confidence and financial independence. The initiative launched by Coca-Cola HBC Romania, in partnership with The Social Incubator Association, offers participants practical skills required on the labor market, encouraging the employment and the desire to build their own road: “My experience with Barmasters Empowered showed me that, when you are supported, I do not have a joy, exactly why they are capable. “

This year, the program brought together participants from six cities and prepared 120 young people between the ages of 18 and 25, from vulnerable environments, for a career in Horeca. What are these? Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, Iași, Brașov, Constanța and Craiova-cities in which the participants specialize as a barista or professional bartenders, benefiting from practical training, mentoring and certifications recognized at national and international level. For many of them, this program is not only a professional opportunity, but also the first experience that offers them direction, trust and support. Intensive courses cover everything that involves a career in Horeca: from Latte art and mixology, to customer service and efficient resource management.

The desire to take advantage of the opportunity

For Robert Aniculăesei, Barmasters Empowered was like a runway. He heard for the first time of the program through the school. Thus, attracted to the idea of learning new things and perfection in an area that was passionate, has signed up without much thoughts. “What motivated me to join was the desire to take advantage of an opportunity that could give me a real professional advantage. I wanted to evolve and become better in what I do,” Robert's story begins. The program offered both solid theoretical knowledge about bartending and hospitality industry, as well as practical skills that it uses daily. “Professionally, he helped me feel more prepared, more confident and more appreciated in the workplace. Personally, he taught me discipline, effective communication and confidence in my own strengths,” says the young man.

In the program, Robert discovered more than a course. He found a community, mentors who guided him and an environment that encouraged them to exceed their limits. “I was surprised by the positive atmosphere and the support I received from the mentors. And an important lesson I learned was that, regardless of the level of experience, it is always a place of learning and improvement,” he explains. Another important thing that he learned? Accept challenges as growth opportunities. To believe in the process, not only as a result. This completely changed the perspective on work.

Clear purpose and stable professional direction

About the Barmasters community, Robert says it is a warm, motivating and open environment: “I tied friends with other young people passionate about this field and received a lot of support from mentors, who have constantly encouraged us to exceed our limits.” According to him, it is the kind of community that inspires you and makes you feel that you are part of something important. And in the end, he left the program not only with a recognized diploma, but with a new perspective on his own life. “After graduation, I felt a clear difference in the way I work and as I relate to my job. I have more confidence in myself, I am more organized and more careful,” explains the young man. He tells that he had the opportunity to apply everything he has learned at important events, and now he feels that he has a clear purpose and a stable professional direction.

Today, Robert works with confidence in the Horeca industry and knows that his road is just beginning. What is his dream? To continue to learn and, one day, inspire others-as he was inspired by those who were with him in the program. And to the question of what the word “independence” means to him, the young man answers without hesitation: “I can rely on myself, to have a stable income and to evolve through my own powers.” Thus, he continues, the program was definitely an important step towards this independence: “He helped me to become more safe and prepared me for greater responsibilities.”

Young people who still do not know where to take it, Robert tells them with confidence that it is normal to have doubts, but it is also more important to stop trying: “If you are offered an opportunity such as the Barmosters program, take advantage of it.

Another road, the same trust gained

For Tudor Cristea, an ambitious and determined young man, Barmasters Empowered was more than an opportunity – it was a turning point. Like other participants, he learned of the program through the school, but attracted the idea of learning a creative job, especially since he already had a passion for coffee. “I was motivated by the thought that I can learn something new and turn my passion into a real career direction,” says the young man.

During the course he discovered that the program offers much more than preparation techniques or serving rules. “I learned about myxology, hospitality, communication and teamwork, but also how to trust myself, get out of the comfort zone and set clear goals.” Tudor mentions that, professionally, this experience offered a solid basis that helped him to work immediately in the field, and personally, he made him feel valuable and capable. What is one of the most important things he has learned and will go further in his professional course? That attitude makes the difference! “Even when I didn't know everything perfectly, the fact that I was involved, careful and open to learning.

An essential step for the future

In addition to training, Tudor also discovered a community in which he felt immediately integrated. Thus, he tied friends and constantly felt the support of the mentors. “The Barmasters community is one of the hottest and most authentic we have encountered. It is a space in which you feel that you belong and in which people honestly help each other,” says the young man. The impact on his life was visible: “He helped me learn new things and discover a job or even a passion.” In other words, he found a way to turn passion into a career beginning.

About independence, Tudor speaks clearly and confidence. He says it means freedom, but also responsibility. “It means I can make decisions for myself, to have the freedom to build my life as I wish, based on my own skills.” The young man emphasizes that, for him, the program was an essential step for the future-giving him the confidence and training needed to become both financial and emotional.

And for young people who do not trust them yet, Tudor has a sincere advice: to take a step, even if it seems small. According to him, it is absolutely normal to have doubts-it is important not to let them stop them. Any step taken in the right direction can open unexpected roads: “My experience with Barmasters Empowered showed me that when you are supported, learning becomes a joy and change is possible. If I feel they do not trust them, this program can show them exactly why they are capable.”

Horeca – the bridge between the profession and the community

The expansion of the Barmasters Empowered program into six cities comes with an important stake: the development of a new generation of professionals in hospitality, which not only covers the needs of the market, but changes it from within. Through access to education, young people acquire not only useful skills, but also a sense of direction and personal value, essential for a healthy professional path.

Barmasters Empowered It is a project carried out under the umbrella “in young people is power”, a local program carried out as part of the #youthempowered initiative, launched by the Coca-Cola HBC group. In Romania, the program is carried out in partnership with The Social Incubator Association, with the objective of increasing the chances of young people between the ages of 16 and 25, from the Neet category (not Employed, in Education or Training), to become active on the labor market. Barmasters Empowered supports young people in the training for a career – from a career, in the training Relevant and employment in Coca-Cola HBC partner locations, in bartenders or barista.

In the first edition of the program, 13 young people of the 50 participants obtained recognized certifications at national and international level and were actively supported in the employment process.

The mission of the project is to show how every young man held today can become a professional and a confident adult in his own forces tomorrow.

Article supported by Coca-Cola HBC