Les Roches Marbella Global Hospitality Education organized the fifth edition of its “Family cooking class” on June 1st, a charity event for the association, DEBRA-PIEL DE MARIPOSA, a foundation with which the school has collaborated for more than a decade. This non-profit association was founded in 1993 in Marbella and currently offers social and psychological services to more than 280 families of children who were born with the genetic disease, Epidermolysis bullosa (EB), also known as Butterfly Skin.
The 5th Annual Family cooking class was attended by more than 100 people from Marbella, San Roque, Benalmádena, and Torremolinos and was a success thanks to the selfless work of a group of Les Roches Marbella chef lecturers and student volunteers. The participation of Enrique Sánchez, celebrity chef and host of the television programs “Comételo” and “La Báscula” on Canal Sur and Cocina con Clan on TVE. “It’s great that there are so many people here today who, while making very little fuss, inspire so much love and solidarity,” he said.
Through the sale of tickets, the raffle and a gift auction were able to raise more than €1,800 for the association. Additional sponsors from Marbella who provided a selection of gifts to be auctioned off during the event were Gran Hotel Guadalpin Banus, Amare Hotel, Hotel Don Carlos, Hotel Los Monteros, NH Marbella Hotel, Hotel Vincci Estrella del Mar, Iberostar Coral Beach, Marbella Segway Tours, Nikky Beach, Mijas Aquatic Park, Sanitas, Uniforms of the South, Westin La Quinta, and photographer, Inbal Hillel. In addition to the funds raised, the intention of the event is to raise awareness amongst the general public of this rare disease that effects many families.
“In particular, this course was the initiative of an Indonesian student who was very active in social work and volunteering while studying at Les Roches Marbella. She created several events to raise awareness about the DEBRA-PIEL DE MARIPOSA association, and her final achievement was this cooking class for adults and children. Since then the Corporate Social Responsibility department of the school has continued to hold the event in her honor. “For four consecutive years, the event has not stopped growing in popularity and participation”, said Laura González, head of RSC at Les Roches Marbella. To which she added,”supporting this association is a gratification for all of us, because being a local organization, we know that our help gets to those in need. The funds raised will help to provide a decent quality of life for the affected children and their families.”
The DEBRA- PIEL DE MARIPOSA Association is a non-profit organization founded by the parents of an affected child in Marbella to support other families with the same situation. It is estimated that in Spain there are approximately 500 people with this disease, whose main characteristic is the extreme fragility of the skin of those who suffer from it. The director of the association in Marbella, Evanina Morcillo, said “The support that Les Roches Marbella and its students give us makes us feel that there are people and entities that put themselves in our shoes, and instead of feeling afraid, they want to come and help. For people with rare diseases such as Butterfly Skin, feeling the embrace of society is the best gift. Les Roches also makes us hope for the future because they help more and more people to understand the disease, which is becoming less and less rare. The students and professors at the school are an example of solidarity and professionalism, putting their good work and their heart at the service of people who need it.”
Les Roches Marbella, considered one of the best hotel training schools in the world, has maintained since its founding, a firm commitment to education in values. The school’s mission involves instilling a sense of community solidarity in its students through social actions, volunteer services, and fundraising. Indeed, within the academic program of Les Roches Marbella, it is mandatory that students participate and get involved in this type of initiative. For the school’s director, Carlos Díez de la Lastra, commitment, generosity, and integrity are indispensable qualities of a good manager and leader. He said, “We train young and future professionals, whose main mission will be to serve others as guests and clients. Only by understanding this concept from the base will they be able to carry out their work in an exemplary manner while being excellent professionals. Training in values and solidarity is as important as the highest quality teaching that we try to impart to these future leaders of the hotel industry of the future. That is why we instill in them the value of social action. From the very beginning they understand the importance of collaboration and sensitivity toward others”.
Les Roches Marbella also collaborates with other local and provincial associations such as AECC, AMUM, Asoc, Multiple Sclerosis Marbella-San Pedro, Cáritas Marbella, Concordia, Red Cross Marbella, Harena Foundation, Música con Encantoc, Proyecto Hombre and Triple A Animal Rescue.
