My culinary roots are steeped in the act of sharing. I’ve been privileged to learn from the guardians of tradition – the ‘mamas’ and home cooks whose delicious street and family meals embody generations of culinary wisdom – as well as from professional chefs committed to sharing their craft. This collective learning fuels ‘Culinary for Social Change,’ an initiative built on the practical transfer of skills and a robust network. For me, It’s a living, digital cookbook, passed on hand-to-hand, designed to empower women financially through the mastery of culinary arts.
Where I come from, culinary arts are often dismissed as merely an interest for women with ‘bad grades,’ seen simply as a stepping stone to ‘bigger’ jobs. However, this perception dramatically undervalues the critical role women play in our food systems.
In reality, women are the undeniable backbone of Ghana’s food ecosystem, profoundly influencing food security, economic development, and community growth. Ghanaian women, for instance, constitute nearly 50% of the agricultural labor force and are responsible for producing up to 70% of our food crops, particularly vegetables and fruits. Their involvement spans every stage of the food value chain—from planting and harvesting to processing, marketing, and selling produce, especially in local markets and as street food vendors, where over 90% are women. Despite these immense contributions, their crucial role in building the economy is often neglected or unrecognised.
Empowering these women is therefore essential. When women gain greater control over household resources and income, they are demonstrably more likely to invest in nutritious food, healthcare, and education for their children and families.
This directly enhances household food security and significantly reduces malnutrition. Studies consistently show that improving women’s decision-making at the household level can markedly reduce food insecurity.
Furthermore, empowering women aligns directly with global sustainable development goals, particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). When women are fully included in decision-making processes, agricultural practices tend to become more sustainable and equitable. They often bring unique traditional knowledge about biodiversity and resource management that is vital for long-term ecological balance.
Ultimately, shifting the perception of culinary work and actively empowering women in food systems is not just about fairness; it’s a strategic imperative for a healthier, more prosperous, and sustainable Ghana.
Our Impact: Driving Change Through Culinary for Social Change
We’ve witnessed tangible transformation in our community across five key pillars:
Culinary Training
Our culinary training equips participants with essential cooking and baking skills. We manage all ingredients and resources, ensuring a smooth and effective learning experience.
We’ve seen a significant upgrade in the skills of women who previously relied on traditional, unmeasured methods. For instance, Sandra, who joined one of our cohorts, now successfully operates her own homemade meal plan company, serving clients three times a week. This demonstrates how our intensive modules build both culinary expertise and entrepreneurial confidence.
Hot Meals for Kids
Our “Hot Meals for Kids” project provides consistent access to nutritious, hot meals for vulnerable children in schools. This directly improves their health, energy levels, and ability to learn. We’ve proudly served over 5,000 schoolchildren with hot meals in just 10 months.
This initiative, run in partnership with local schools, has brought visible change. Before, many children would arrive at school hungry or with inadequate packed lunches, especially on days they knew we wouldn’t be visiting. Our consistent presence ensures vital nutrition, leading to improved concentration and performance in the classroom.
Cooking Classes
Our community cooking classes offer engaging, practical methods for homemakers, teams, and families. We focus on the versatile use of local ingredients and authentic Ghanaian culinary techniques.
We’re proud to be recognised as one of Accra’s most sought-after authentic cooking class experiences. We’ve maintained sustained interest from tourists and local participants, regardless of gender, eager to learn traditional Ghanaian dishes and cooking methods. Our classes not only share recipes but also celebrate our rich culinary heritage.
Promoting Local, Sustainable Food Systems
We actively promote the use of locally sourced ingredients among women entrepreneurs, cooking class participants, and food enthusiasts. This strengthens the local agricultural economy and fosters more sustainable practices within the entire food chain. Additionally, we’re committed to promoting briquettes from a local startup, Ecopreneur Solutions (made from coconut and cassava peels), using them in all our classes to educate participants on their benefits.
Our commitment to sustainability gained significant traction when we shared a single recipe video on social media featuring our sourced briquettes. This video garnered almost a million views across platforms, with extensive engagement and comments highlighting the introduction of briquettes and our sustainable cooking methods. This reach has allowed us to raise considerable awareness for eco-friendly practices in the culinary space.
Culinary for Social Change gracefully embodies the Chefs’ Manifesto action plan – using the power of food to drive positive social impact and transform food systems. By centring women as agents of change in Ghana’s food systems, they are not just teaching culinary skills, but unlocking economic opportunity, and promoting sustainable practices rooted in local knowledge.
From empowering women entrepreneurs to feeding schoolchildren and championing eco-friendly cooking fuels, their work demonstrates that chefs and food leaders have a critical role to play in shaping a fairer, more resilient food future.
Learn more at Culinary For Social Change
