THE Wentworth Organisation of Women (Wow), in partnership with The Master Chef Culinary Academy, has launched an innovative project to empower women and generate sustainable funding for the NPO. The five students involved with the special course celebrated their graduation at the Wow centre on June 24.

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Dorothy Maharaj, Wow treasurer, said the organisation had recognised the dire need for sustainable income-generating activities among the community, particularly for women, and baking was the perfect starting point.

“The learners completed a Basic Baking Skills programme. This skill learnt will help encourage and support entrepreneurship and provide job opportunities. This initiative is a contribution to sustainable development by enhancing and developing skills to enable women and the youth to sustain themselves while aspiring to improve their lives and contribute to their communities,” said Maharaj.

The training, conducted by The Master Chef’s principal Fatima Stanley, introduced five community women to the fundamentals of bread and pastry making.

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“They were taught how to bake a range of products such as hot cross buns, Chelsea buns, koeksisters, cupcakes and biscuits. They were also taught how to measure ingredients accurately using scales and measuring cups, read a recipe correctly and controlling oven temperatures correctly. Each woman was given theory notes and recipes to help them learn,” said Stanley.

Maharaj shared that the new bakery would begin with the production of staple items such as bread and bread rolls, before expanding to muffins, scones, rotis, vetkoeks pancakes and other baked good. “Rome wasn’t built in a day, so we’re starting small, but our vision is big,” she joked.

The bakery’s proceeds will be reinvested in Wow to cover other programmes within the community for women, purchase additional equipment and materials, and eventually help branch out into other small business ventures.

“Our vision is to make women self-sustaining entrepreneurs, which will benefit not only them but their families and society as a whole,” said Maharaj.

She added they also wish to expand and create a small tea garden outside the centre where the SASSA office is. “We have an influx of people visiting the SASSA office; we saw an opportunity to capitalise on that and hopefully open up a tea garden which will assist patrons to buy something to eat, since some of them sit there from as early as 06:00 until the afternoon,” said Maharaj.

The bakery is not just about baking bread but building a stronger community.

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