Peas can often be found on the ingredients list of recipes cooked by Dennis Mwakulua, but this is the first time he’s been photographed as a pea.
Dennis, who is group chef at Compass Group UK & Ireland, has had his photo taken with Farm Africa’s Danny Everett looking like ‘peas in a pod’.
The chef is attending the Africa on the Square festival in London today to encourage others to share photos of themselves using Peas in a Pod selfie frames to promote the Growing Futures fundraising appeal being launched by the charity Farm Africa.
Farm Africa is aiming to raise more than £380,000 through the appeal and the UK Government will match all donations from the UK public, to help 2,000 young women and men in the county of Elgeyo Marakwet in western Kenya escape poverty by growing and selling vegetables that are in high demand, such as mangetouts, French beans and chillies.
The funds raised will be used to give high-quality seeds and agricultural and business training to young adults to enable them to set up their own sustainable horticulture businesses. Farm Africa will help project participants work with other young farmers so they can sell their crops in bulk for higher prices.
In Kenya 45 percent of people live below the poverty line. A gift of £3 could provide a young farmer with a training session, equipping them with the essential agricultural and business skills they need to make a profit not just this harvest, but every harvest.
Dennis, who visited Farm Africa’s Growing Futures project in January this year, while in Kenya to attend Nairobi Restaurant Week, commented:
“Farming can be a way for young people to earn a good living and support their family and I’d like to help Farm Africa’s projects expand into other areas across Kenya.”
International Development Secretary Priti Patel said:
“Farm Africa’s Growing Futures appeal will support thousands of young farmers in West Kenya, giving a boost to local businesses.
“The money raised will help farmers – half of whom are women – to develop their agriculture skills and improve access to markets, so they can grow more crops, increase their incomes and better support their families.”
Farm Africa’s patron Michael Palin is lending his support to the campaign by presenting an appeal that will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at 7.55am and 9.26pm on Sunday 15 October and at 3.27pm on Thursday 19 October.
Other high-profile supporters of the Growing Futures appeal include Ashley Palmer-Watts, executive chef of two Michelin-starred restaurant, Dinner by Heston, the supermarket Aldi, The Voice newspaper, the World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards, Restaurant magazine and The Grocer.
Donations to the Growing Futures appeal from individuals based in the UK will be doubled by the Government through UK Aid Match between 14 October 2017 and 14 January 2018. Donations can be made online at www.farmafrica.org/growingfutures
