An initiative that teaches underprivileged children culinary skills is hoping to instil lifelong healthy eating habits |
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 FOOD
Anneliese O'Young and Prudence Lui
May 21, 2009 |
Philippe Bru is also attempting to help less fortunate children. Two years ago, he founded Cooking for Life, which aims to teach underprivileged children cooking techniques at world-class restaurants. "This idea started out to promote personal health and healthy eating habits," says Bru, a wine dealer.
"We had Football for Life to foster team spirit while encouraging physical activity, but often it was only the boys who joined. I asked the charities I was working with what girls were interested in and, overwhelmingly, they said cooking.
"The concept is pretty simple. Hotels and restaurants host 15 children every Saturday from 3pm to 5pm. The kitchen determines the theme of each session and teaches the children basic dishes to cook," says Bru.
In the first year, 1,500 children from 10 charities were hosted in 15 top hotels and five restaurants.
"The children may be underprivileged, but they are eager to learn, well behaved and very hands on," says Bru. "We take the children out of their own districts and bring them to top restaurants they would normally not have the opportunity to explore.
"Martin Yan, from Yan Can Cook, is our ambassador and, together, we are launching this funding campaign to create a community cooking centre. There is a lack of knowledge about cooking and the current state of Hong Kong's salty and greasy diet is a health issue.
"Instead of moving from hotel to restaurant, Cooking for Life will have a home base with the ability to provide services not only to underprivileged children, but also adults and families. This would allow the corporate world and major chefs to participate and get on cable television."
The success of this campaign can be attributed to the passion Bru inspires in his volunteers.
"They [volunteers] are amazing," he says. "I have received about 300 e-mails from volunteers from different parts of the world. Many give their time to chase restaurants to donate their facilities. We are here to remind the industry that although there is a financial crisis, these kids deserve better. It's our job to convince each person in the industry that they can help."
"What we do is about being disciplined, it's about working together and it's about life in general. We help children come out of their district to cook food, but if they are keen to work in the industry then we can help them as well. A lot of hotels are eager to hire and exposure through Cooking for Life can help them.
"In this fast-food world, if you can show children healthy cooking and get them to know how much it costs to buy vegetables, to wash them properly and cook them well, it would be great. If one or two become chefs, then our job is done."
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