Putting on their aprons, the young offenders at Corradino Correctional Facility kneaded the dough and tirelessly churned out more than 900 figolli in aid of charity.
The scene was that of a busy restaurant kitchen: some were opening the dough and cutting it into shapes, others weighed the almond filling and the rest were decorating the baked figolli with chocolate and icing.
The hustle and bustle, accompanied by much good-natured leg-pulling and jibes, took place at the kitchen of the Young Offenders Rehabilitation Services (Yours) section under the guidance of staff from the Institute of Tourism Studies.
The initiative came about after the 36 inmates were visited by a team from the Living Waters Mission Group.
"They spoke to us about their missionary work in Ethiopia and even showed us DVDs of their projects, including kindergarten schools, grinding mills, water pumps, child-sponsoring programmes and houses," said one inmate.
"By the end of it we all wanted to help out," said another.
One inmate joked that he could now bake a figolla blindfolded and others commented on how positive the team-building experience was for them.
Joanne Battistino, assistant correctional manager who runs Yours, explained that Kevin Ellul, an ITS lecturer, had supervised the whole figolli-making procedure to ensure a professional quality.
The Living Waters team bought the ingredients, even dropping by to lend a hand in the baking. All the proceeds from the sale of the 900 figolli are going towards sponsoring a building project for 55 homeless families in the northwest region of Ethiopia.
Melanie Bonavia, spokesman of Living Waters (formerly known as Third World Project Group), explained that the project was geared towards a housing village accommodating 55 homeless families.
"Bahir Dar is an extremely poor village where a 'house' is usually one small room built with bamboo sticks covered with cow dung. Such houses do not provide much shelter. Moreover, with the excessive heat, the material starts decaying and with each torrential rain this 'house' is swept away," she said.
The conditions of the area are extremely miserable and, due to the drainage passing alongside their living quarters, there is a disease-inducing lack of hygiene. It is also a highly infectious malaria zone.
"The ongoing projects are monitored by the local Catholic congregations but every year we visit Ethiopia to give our input," said Ms Bonavia, expressing her gratitude to Yours and ITS.
This is not the first time Yours has collaborated with ITS. Some young offenders are actually sitting for certified, hands-on courses run by the institute on basic culinary skills.
"Our aim is for residents to make good use of their time. Experience with industrial kitchen equipment will help increase their chances of employment upon release," Ms Battistino said.
Lack of educational qualifications and an "unclean" police record make it very hard for the incarcerated young, male offenders to find gainful em-ployment once they serve time, despite genuine willingness to part with the criminal lifestyle.
"It's a great satisfaction for me to know I have helped someone out there. I may be here because I made a mistake but, instead of indulging in self-pity, I am trying to become a better person," said one of the inmates.