By Natasha Baker | Development Volunteer
Hi supporters and feliz ano novo - happy new year! We hope that 2023 is starting out well for you and we have some good news to share to start the year off well.
Since our last report, the Sustainable Culinary School has been really busy! The school has graduated 150 women across three projects, which we've highlighted before: Culinary Arts & Therapy (4 courses: savory foods, sweets and desserts for parties, chocolate, and pastries); Professional Development for Women in the Culinary Arts (3 courses: savory foods, chocolate, and regional cooking); and the Feeding Dreams Project (7 groups of students across courses in savory foods, home-style and regional cakes, cookies and crackers, and pasta and sauces).
To make these courses as accessible as possible, we've offered them in three locations: Fortaleza, Maracanaú, and Caucaia. We use quality ingredients and kitchen utensils. We also offer the classes for free, which makes your donations so important. We also have the partnership of the Federal University of Ceará, so all of our students receive actual certification in the courses they take, making it easier for them to find jobs or start their own businesses. We also work with businesses to identify their employment needs and match our graduates with them.
The work of the Sustainable Culinary School is gaining more and more recognition. The Mental Health Movement was invited to participate in the 14th Biannual International Book Festival in Fortaleza in November 2022 to share the work of the Sustainable Culinary School with the roughly 30,000 people in attendance. Today we have a report back from one of the culinary school students who was able to attend the book festival -- not only attend, but also sell her goods to the public and avoid serious financial hardship:
My name is Ana, I'm 29 years old and a single mom. Because of the Mental Health Movement and the Sustainable Culinary School, I had the opportunity to sell cakes and sweets that I had made at the Biannual Book Festival in Fortaleza. There were a lot of barriers and obstacles to me attending, but I overcame them and I went. I participated in all four days of the festival and I sold a lot! My goal was to make enough money to pay my energy bills; I was three months behind and I was afraid that I was going to be sitting in the dark soon. But that fear went away because I was able to make enough money to pay my bills. I am really happy to be part of this beautiful movement.
Your donations help create financial security and stability for people like Ana and her family. Thank you - obrigada.
-Natasha (Development Volunteer)
Mitakuye Oyasin
Îandé Memé Maranongara
Somos Todos Parentes
We Are All Related
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By Natasha Baker | Development Volunteer
By Natasha Baker | Development Volunteer
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