Award winning baking student Abeer Al-Sahwi
The award win was icing on the cake for Ms Al Sahwi, of Fawkner, who enrolled in Kangan Institute’s baking program to launch her own baking business. The mother-of-four fled Syria four years ago to start a new life in Australia.
“I feel so happy (to win the award). I am so proud of myself and of what I have achieved so far,” said Ms Al Sahwi.
“I used to be a teller at a commercial bank in Syria. At that time there was a war, which was the reason we had to leave Syria for safety and for the future of my kids.
“I love baking and a friend told me about the course and how helpful it was; that’s what pushed me to enrol and develop my baking skills. Studying at Kangan helped me learn new recipes. I improved my English language and I made amazing new friends.”
Ms Al Sahwi said the cake was inspired by summer.
“My cake was inspired by the summer season – its colours and its fruits. I loved combining sourness and sweetness, and adding the bitter taste from the dark chocolate into it.
“I was mostly proud of the cake design that I came up with as it was my very first time creating a cake design.”