David Hertz, Brazil
Inspired to help drive the social gastronomy movement ten years ago, Brazilian chef David Hertz started Gastromotiva to give opportunities to the socially vulnerable of the favelas of São Paulo, (later in Rio de Janeiro, Bahia and now Ciudad de México), through food and culinary training (the industry was calling out for skilled professionals – so it was a win-win solution). Participants gain employment skills, as well as confidence and life skills, and are encouraged to become ‘multipliers’, training others in their community in turn. The scheme has trained more than 1,800 people with an 80% employment rate, just 5% dropping out, and thousands of applications each month. Ever evolving, Gastromotiva now also has programs in state schools and prisons.
www.gastromotiva.org
