BY NDUMISO TSHUMA
A passionate mother and professional chef, Yeukayi Tendai Maposa, has transformed her garage into a state-of-the-art kitchen to teach children cooking and baking.
Super Kiddos Kitchen (SKK), founded by Maposa and her daughter Zoe, is a school dedicated to these culinary arts.
Inspired by her love for food and its ability to connect people, Maposa launched SKK on her daughter’s 11th birthday.
Zoe’s chef-themed party, where guests created their own pizza, cupcakes, burgers, and hot dogs under Maposa’s guidance, sparked the idea. The children’s enjoyment and her fulfillment confirmed her vision of teaching kids to cook and bake.
“The kids loved it, and I felt fulfilled. From then on, I knew we could teach children to cook and bake. My first class had 20 kids in my kitchen, leading us to convert the garage into a kitchen as more children enrolled,” Maposa explained.
Maposa’s daughter, Zoe, shares her passion for cooking and baking. Her online posts of her creations impressed parents, who requested lessons for their children. This further fuelled Maposa’s determination to transform her garage into a school.
She believes cooking is a vital life skill for every child and it goes beyond food preparation, fostering confidence, self-esteem, and cultural appreciation.
“Cooking is a life skill. At SKK, I build children’s self-esteem, confidence, and culinary knowledge. I teach them teamwork, friendship, and appreciation for cultural diversity. I also promote STEAM objectives and encourage independent learning,” Maposa said.
Maposa envisions empowering countless children and establishing a culinary school for young minds. She plans to collaborate with the Ministry of Education to integrate her program into primary school curricula.
“My dream is to empower many children and build a culinary school for them. I want to work with the Ministry of Education to include my program in primary schools. These lessons can inspire children toward various career paths, such as nutritionist, food scientist, bakery owner, or farmer. Every child deserves attention, and catering to their individual needs is how we empower them,” Maposa concluded.
