Provide meals in Mozambique following Cyclone Idai

In March, the WCK Chef Relief Team landed in Beira, Mozambique just days after Cyclone Idai slammed into southern Africa. What we found when we arrived was devastating. Nearly 2 million people were in need. Hundreds of thousands of people were displaced. More than 1 million acres of crops were destroyed. Communities were completely cut off due to flooding.

Shortly after arriving in Beira, WCK activated a local kitchen and #ChefsForMozambique began. Over the following months, our Relief Team served more than 300,000 meals to survivors. We were able to provide more than 10,000 meals each day, operating out of two kitchens. Meals were delivered to local schools, hospitals, clinics, and camps housing those displaced. 

The Chef Relief Team had the help of up to 140 volunteers a day showing up in the early morning hours to prepare meals for their neighbors. By working with the local community, we are better able to learn what the exact needs are, directly from those impacted. We always work to serve meals that are familiar and comforting to those in crisis, and we always purchase as many local ingredients as we can. Buying food locally helps to keep dollars in the impacted economy, which will in turn help speed up the recovery process. Buying local, employing local, and utilizing local expertise are all core to our relief efforts.

Now that camps have closed and people are starting to return home for the long recovery process, WCK has transitioned to supporting the local team run by WCK partner Ruy and his MAKOBO Platform. We have worked with Ruy since arriving in Beira, and with WCK's support, Ruy and the local team is currently serving fresh-cooked meals to children in schools in more rural communities.  

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