David created Gastromotiva in 2006 to help foster social inclusion in Brazil through gastronomy. The initiative offers culinary training to young people and unites many different sectors of society around the transformative power of food. Fourteen years later, and in partnership with more than 32 local organisations, Gastromotiva is now a global success with operations in Brazil, Mexico, South Africa and El Salvador. The initiative covers a number of projects such as “Gastromotiva Refettorio”, a social dining room opened in collaboration with Food For Soul in Rio de Janeiro Janeiro – which provided food for homeless people from leftovers from the Rio Olympic Village – to the launch of the Social Gastronomy Movement in 2017, a global network that brings together chefs to promote causes such as sustainable development, healthy eating and social inclusion through the power of food.
