Empowerment in a cookbook: Recipes tell stories of women in Egypt

Ingy Deif, Saturday 7 Sep 2024

The UN’s World Food Program(WFP) published a first-of-its-kind cookbook, titled “Empowering Women through Cooking,” that combines recipes with personal narratives of empowerment.

courtesy of WFP Egypt

 

The cookbook was launched in collaboration with the Seven Circles consultancy’s Empowering Through initiative.

It presents recipes alongside the narratives of 54 women of different nationalities, religious and socio-economic backgrounds, who are currently living in the country.

The women's’ narratives tell stories of empowerment and offer insights on pursuing one’s ambition.

Marking the book’s launch, WFP Representative and Country Director in Egypt Praveen Agrawal said “This cookbook presents a unique space where everyday people, communities, individuals and entities have come together to share their voice and message of empowerment.”

“WFP’s strategic partnership with Seven Circles emphasises the importance of empowering women by providing access to opportunities and education, not only to achieve food security, but development that is truly inclusive and sustainable.”

In a joint statement, Seven Circles co-founder Dina Saoudi and Abdul Majeed Shoman Jr said “We are grateful to our partners, contributors and are thrilled to shed light on stories of Egypt’s inspirational women with the world.”

The statement stressed that the book confirms that civil society, the public sector, the private sector, academia and development agencies can work together to empower women.

Contributors to the Egypt cookbook include the Semiramis Intercontinental Cairo Hotel, Monappetit Culinary Academy, Beyti, Stardust and Zest Production House and it is co-published by Jabal Amman Publishers and Dar El Shorouk publishing house.

In Egypt, the government is working with the WFP to empower women and girls through improved access to education, adequate nutrition, and vocational trainings for employment, economic opportunities and consequently and improved food security.

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