On 22 March, the Soli Deo Gloria Care Centre in Lydenburg, Mpumalanga, will host a special cooking competition that brings together residents, volunteers, and supporters for a day of creativity, community, and hope. Organised with the support of Swiss4Afrika and We4SA, the event aims to celebrate the power of food to restore dignity and bring people together.
Soli Deo Gloria Care Centre provides shelter and support to people who have fallen into homelessness, many of them due to South Africa’s severe unemployment crisis. With unemployment affecting around 33% of the population and more than 40% of young people between 18 and 25, many individuals face enormous challenges when trying to rebuild their lives after losing their jobs and homes.
Shelters like Soli Deo Gloria play a vital role by offering not only a safe place to stay, but also a community where people can begin to regain stability and hope for the future. At the heart of every shelter is the kitchen, where daily meals are prepared and shared.
The cooking competition on 22 March will turn that kitchen into a place of celebration and opportunity. Residents will form teams and prepare dishes using available ingredients, presenting their creations to a panel of judges. The focus will be on taste, creativity, teamwork, and presentation.
For many participants, the competition is more than just a fun activity. It is an opportunity to showcase their talents, build confidence, and experience the pride of creating something meaningful. Events like this remind everyone involved that skills, creativity, and potential exist in every community, even among those who are often overlooked.
The initiative also highlights the broader mission of Swiss4Afrika, which supports community projects that empower people through practical solutions such as training kitchens, skills development, and local entrepreneurship.
While the cooking competition will bring excitement and friendly competition to the shelter for one day, it also carries a deeper message: small actions can make a big difference. Contributions as small as CHF 25 or around R500 per month can help improve kitchen facilities, provide ingredients for meals, and support programmes that give people the tools to rebuild their lives.
Ultimately, the cooking competition is about more than food. It is about restoring dignity, strengthening community, and reminding everyone that every person deserves opportunity and a place at the table.