Train Brazilians in Sustainable Culinary Arts

In our October 2019 and January 2020 reports, we introduced our supporters to our new program, Culinary Arts and Therapy: The Kitchen as a Place of Healing. This therapeutic program is designed for marginalized women; students learn culinary skills within a therapeutic process that is designed to prevent emotional and mental disorders. The goal is to unite care with job training so that students can secure employment. The program consists of five courses, each with a different focus: savory foods, chocolate, sweets and desserts, jellies and jams, and traditional foods. The cooking classes last 48 hours in total, spread out over 6 months. The classes are offered in partnership with the Cooperforte Institute of Brazil and are certified by the Federal University of Ceará. 

Enrollment for the next cohort of the program was done in January, but we unfortunately had to suspend our activities because of COVID-19, which has also threatened the lives of Brazilians. As we’re all familiar with by now, one of the key recommendations from the World Health Organization in response to this pandemic is to practice social distancing. This has had all kinds of direct and indirect impacts on people’s routines and as a consequence, also on their mental health.

In this moment of crisis, MSM stepped up. MSM has provided students with online activities. Since MSM operates in a very vulnerable part of Fortaleza, MSM knew that it had to keep its doors open and continue to help community members through free psychological treatment, welcoming spaces, and therapy. MSM is also donating food, hygiene kits, and gift certificates for grocery stores to vulnerable community members. 

MSM is also helping community members by helping them sell their cakes, breads, and jams. MSM uses its vehicles to do daily deliveries of community members’ goods, along with the organic produce grown in MSM’s community garden. To ensure that MSM is strictly following all hygiene recommendations, MSM has partnered with a startup called Muda meu Mundo (Change My World).

And in this way, MSM continues its mission to promote sustainability – agricultural, economic, and social. Please join us by making a donation today.

In solidarity,

Natasha Baker (Development Volunteer)

Mitakuye Oyasin
Îandé Memé Maranongara
Somos Todos Parentes
We Are All Related