Taking cooking skills to the cradle
When catering classes are mentioned, the picture in the minds of many is that of adults taking cooking lessons. In Area 11 area in Abuja, catering lessons are done but differently as they are strictly for children.
An afternoon with children showed how enthusiastic and excited they were about taking cooking lessons. They took turns in mixing flour for cakes, dough for pizzas, meat mix for meat balls and dicing of various ingredients. An interesting scenario was when the male students showed more interest in the cooking lessons and even took lead in most cooking sessions.
Hajiya Hauwa Abbas, owner of the Impakt Cooking School explains that she started the catering school for children because as a child she hated the kitchen. “I didn’t like anything about the kitchen. I hated to cook; it was when I got to the university that I started learning how to cook. Most of my friends who knew me back then are surprised that I am into the business of cooking and even training children on how to cook now. I saw the need to fill in the gap in the catering business for children.”
Abbas explained that it wasn’t fun cooking at home and while growing up and that when she visited friends their kids were always eager to cook but their mothers always stopped because there was always a cook.
She alsosays she had discovered that kids love things that are fun.
Paul Abey, a nine-year-old student, says he enjoys cooking because there are a lot of different colours and foods to get creative with. “Most times what children like me can cook are noodles and most times it’s not fun. And I have also heard that it makes young girls lazy and some boys too.”
Abbas says she derives satisfaction in knowing that she has added value in the lives of the children as they can learn and go back home and practice. On why there are more boys than girls in the class, she said most times the cooking focus is on the girls, especially for those from the North. “We want our girls to be perfect. We want good education and perfect home management skills for them. While on the other hand we allow the boys to play and just watch television and expect them to become good husbands tomorrow. How can they when they don’t know how to do certain things and they take certain things for granted?”
She explains that a lot of her friends’ kids who are boys are very interested in cooking and that since she started the school, the boys have shown more interest in taking the cooking lessons than the girls. These boys also make burgers, sandwiches, cake and a several other pastries. They also make ice cream, shawarma, moi moi, Jollof rice, yam balls and later move to making intercontinental cuisines like Chinese fried rice, Italian spaghetti and more.
Nigerian dishes are not prepared in the school and Abbas explains why. “With kids one has to be creative, if you are telling them to pound yam and make egusi soup, I can bet you will not see them tomorrow. Nigerian dishes are very tasking to prepare. You have to be creative.”
The school engages in practical teaching, where the students take notes and practice from start to finish in the kitchen. Abbas believes being practical helps the children retain what they have been taught and can assist in being easily replicated on their own when they are at home.
Most of the children aspire to be chefs as they say they cook at home more frequently now. “We cook at home and bring to school for our aunty to taste and she also come to our homes quite often to check on us and we cook for her. Since I started assisting my mum in the kitchen she has been very happy. And it also feels good to be able to cook a dish for the family to enjoy at weekends,” 10-year-old Hashim Abdul says with confidence.
One happy parent said: “It gives me joy to see that we have a place where we can send our children to for discipline and fun all combined. My son now not only cooks but also cleans the house and clears his dishes when he is done eating. I am very happy with the discipline being instilled in them at this age.”
The school also offers an ‘Amarya package’, so-called because it is the whole nine yards from kitchen to market to cleaning the house, mopping, gardening, washing, stitching your torn dress, etc. Abbas added: “Most people don’t teach these basic things at home, so we have a package to take care of all that. Asides food and home management, we also teach new brides how to save cost, what to buy and what not to buy. One thing I noticed is the use of spices. These are essential and basic necessities most children need from a very tender age to be able to live a fulfilled and happy life in future and we are glad we are giving it here right from the cradle.”