The smell of freshly baked bread fills the small kitchen at a local shelter every Thursday, where a group of teenage girls gather to learn more than just baking. For many of these girls, aged 10 to 18, life has been marked by broken families and emotional trauma, however the weekly bakery program offers a chance to rebuild routines, skills, and confidence.

Founded in 1991, the shelter has long provided a safe space for at-risk girls. In 2017, it launched an independent bakery training program, aiming not only to teach professional baking techniques but also to offer a therapeutic routine. The girls’ baked goods are shared with the community, giving them a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Baking instructor Lu Ya-hui has worked with the girls for eight years. She says the tactile rhythm of kneading dough helps the girls calm their emotions and learn to cope with frustration. “I learn with the kids, instead of just teaching them,” she explains. Even a simple question like, “What do you want to eat?” can spark motivation and create a classroom environment where the girls feel safe to grow.

The program also supports the girls in preparing for certification exams and encourages each of them to find their own path. “No matter how slowly they progress, having someone willing to walk with them allows these girls to rediscover their own strength,” Lu says.

Through the steady beat of mixing, kneading, and baking, these girls are also finding ways to heal, connect, and regain confidence in themselves.

 以下為中文對照

慈懷烘焙坊：從烤盤到考照 少女揉麵療心傷

在慈懷基金會的烘焙坊裡，每週四飄散著烤麵包的香氣。這裡的孩子多來自破碎家庭，背負創傷與不安，但在和麵、秤料、發酵的過程中，她們學習的不只是烘焙技術，更是與自己和解的力量。慈懷基金會自 1991 年成立，收容 10 至 18 歲迷途少女，2017 年成立自立烘焙坊，希望以技藝課程讓孩子建立生活節奏、獲得一技之長並逐步找回自信。

執行長胡碧雲分享，烘焙不只是技術學習，而是孩子重要的自我療癒歷程。捏麵團的「手感」讓少女們能沉澱情緒、練習面對挫折；完成作品後分送社區，也讓孩子從回饋中學會與他人互動，建立連結。烘焙老師呂雅惠已陪伴孩子八年，她不以權威姿態授課，而是「與孩子一起學」，用合作與引導替孩子打開第一步。「她們不是不會，是沒自信。」呂雅惠用「想吃什麼？」帶出學習動力，讓課堂成為讓孩子安心伸展的場域。生活輔導員也會陪孩子一起備考、一起考照，體會每個孩子都有不同的步調。無論前進多慢，只要有人願意陪她們一起走，孩子就能重新看見自己的力量。

照片