The mission, organised through a long-term partnership between the World Food Programme (WFP) and Sodexo’s Stop Hunger Foundation, is part of Stop Hunger’s YEAH! (Your Engagement Against Hunger) mission programme which focuses on helping fight food insecurity and its root causes by empowering women and younger generations for a better future.
During his visit Bowman trained local chefs, multiplying the reach of his intervention, and in turn supporting culinary staff of 422 schools, showing them how to produce tastier, healthier and more nutritious school meals.
In addition to learning about kitchen practices such as knife skills and raw product handling, the training will also help with menu planning and how to take into account the seasonal availability of ingredients, their consumers preferences and nutritional requirements.
Bowman said: “This was a chance in a lifetime. I am humbled and proud beyond belief of the delivery of our train the trainer programme in The Gambia.
“The programme is so important and is empowering the participants to go out and pass on the knowledge and skills acquired to support schools as part of their home-grown school feeding programme. I was truly inspired by everyone I met, their willingness to learn and their determination to ensure school children have access to nutritious meals every day was amazing.”
Since 2014, Sodexo’s Stop Hunger Foundation has worked in partnership with WFP, the world’s largest humanitarian organisation working to end hunger, as part of their shared mission to achieve zero hunger.