Baking Class

For the last few days we have been teaching a baking class for local Nepali women.  This class is an initiative by CDRA Nepal to improve the skill-set of the Nepali people. It is one of a number of training courses that are and will be undertaken (others include: computer classes, beauty therapy, electrical and hospitality).  The classes have been in high demand, with many women interested to learn new cooking techniques. In Nepal everyone eats Dal Bhat (twice a day), and cooking other foods, especially western foods, is virtually unknown. 

The class focuses on teaching the basics of baking, with recipes such as scones, cake, biscuits, cinnamon pinwheels and slice. In the future we will also start doing pizzas, and other savoury recipes.  The women enjoyed learning how to make these, with one even coming back the following day with a cake she had made at home for the first time following the class.  It has been a learning experience for us aswell, with the challenges of insufficient space, water, cooking utensils and only a small bench top oven.  The ingredients we can access here are limited, and its been a challenge with the butter being so different.

Its been interesting for us also to spend more time with the women, and although its a challenge with our limited understanding of the language, its been a good chance for us to learn more about the role of women in Nepal.  One of our volunteer friends, Dillion, a 18 year old scottish lad was a fabulous kitchen hand washing all the dishes - much to the amazement and consternation of the women. They kept trying to send him away from the sink.

Its also very clear working with a group of women the differences between those from town and those from the village. Obviously there is a big difference in the level of education, and their confidence as a result.  The women from the village are very shy and it took a lot of encouragement to get them involved in the group. 

While many of the women are interested in learning baking to feed their families, some will also be using the skills they have learnt for small scale bakery businesses.  This is one way to empower women, as through earning an income they become more influential in the family.  With the ability to earn they are no longer as reliant on their husbands for money, and with financial independence they have the ability to look after the affairs of the household better. For example, many women will use the money to send their children to school.



Showing how to use an oven - convection ovens are very rare here, and it took us a while to track this one down

Paula and Rashil explaining a new recipe



Making bread

Working in groups to make a cake