Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Baking school aims to empower jobless women
WILL the next Bartolo “Buddy” Valastro jr, also known as the Cake Boss, come from Ravensmead?
Lucrecia Esau was retrenched in 2019 and embarked on a baking journey, where she is determined to not let it flop.
She started to sell cakes to friends, family and people in her community to survive.
However, the mother of two wanted to further her knowledge in baking, improve her small business and learn how to add product offerings and to cost and market her merchandise more effectively.
Esau then recently applied and was accepted at Sowing and Reaping Baking School in Edgemead, which provides unemployed women with baking, basic costing and basic marketing skills.
This initiative will enable women to start their own home-based business which will benefit them and their immediate families and bridge the gap of unemployment in South Africa.
“Since completing the course, I have realised how to cost my products more accurately, creating a more sustainable small business. The seven-day baking course with Sowing and Reaping also helped me introduce a bigger variety of products I can make and sell,” said Esau.
“I feel more confident in what I’m doing now. Credit should go to all those involved in the school for their help and support.
“My goals are to maintain good relationships with my customers and to open up my own cake shop,” said Esau, who owns Lulu Chai Creations and bakes everything from character cakes to wedding and birthday cakes.
Sowing and Reaping project director Alicia Meder said they believe that women are the backbone of every family, community and country.
“Women have the ability to be strong and courageous, and can overcome many obstacles as well as being compassionate. If a woman is given an opportunity to be empowered, it will boost her self-confidence and independence.
“Our country needs more women to take the lead in spheres of influence. Transference of skill is merely the foundation of affording women an opportunity to change the status quo of our impoverished communities. If a woman can rise above her circumstances, she is able to affect the lives of those around her.
“Sowing and Reaping Baking School will afford our candidates the ability not only to bring out their creative side, but to start their own homebased business, creating a sustainable income stream,” she said.
Established in December 2021, Sowing and Reaping Baking School is a NPO founded by qualified pastry chef Judy Romon.
“After many years of passionately enjoying home baking and operating a successful bake-from-home business, Judy’s mission is to use the skills and experiences she acquired to address unemployment by upskilling women through baking,” added Meder.
For more information, email info@ sowingandreaping.org.za