Gambiaj.com – Kidzink, a Dubai-based educational, architectural, and manufacturing firm, has teamed up with Waste to Wonder Worldwide, a UK Social Enterprise and Charity, to build a community culinary school and a sustainable farm in The Gambia.

The partnership aims to design and construct a sustainable community school that will offer young people in The Gambia vital skills in sustainable cooking, agriculture, hospitality, and tourism. Students will learn both front-of-house skills, such as customer interaction, and back-of-house skills, including food preparation and dishwashing. This initiative will equip the youth with essential knowledge for a future that emphasizes environmental consciousness.

Moreover, the culinary school will employ local community members and support local businesses, further integrating the project into the fabric of the area. “Kidzink’s partnership with Waste to Wonder Worldwide aligns perfectly with our commitment to social impact and sustainability,” said Charlotte Borghesi, Founder & Managing Director of Kidzink. “This new collaboration allows us to further extend our work through imagining, designing, and eventually realizing a school that will serve young people in The Gambia and the wider community for generations to come,” she added.

A notable feature of this project is the involvement of Chef Conor Spacey, known as the ‘Zero-waste’ Chef, who will offer guidance and insights for the school’s design and construction. Chef Spacey, celebrated for his cost-saving and waste-reducing techniques, will also provide the community with tools and skills for sustainable cooking and agriculture. Through video lessons, he will make sustainable cooking techniques accessible to students.

“This amazing project really highlights how food can play an important part in building an entire circular economy,” said Spacey. “From planning to construction, the furniture to the art, the farm to the school, and buying produce from local villages, everyone benefits, with the end goal of giving people skills that can help them work their way out of poverty. It’s too important to not be involved.”

Waste to Wonder Worldwide will also contribute by redistributing functional furniture from ethical clearances globally to enhance the educational facilities in The Gambia, significantly reducing waste and emissions. “We are thrilled to partner with Kidzink on this transformative project,” said Michael Amos, Managing Director of Waste to Wonder Worldwide. “This underscores our shared commitment to empowering communities through sustainable initiatives. By collaborating with Kidzink, we aim to not only provide practical education and skills development opportunities but also to create a lasting impact on the environment and the lives of individuals in The Gambia and beyond.”

This collaborative effort between Kidzink, Waste to Wonder Worldwide, and Chef Conor Spacey represents a significant step toward sustainable education and community development in The Gambia.