Empathy and excellence

Early in 2022, findings - part of during the Bank of Namibia’s seminar on 'Mapping Namibia's Post-Covid Economic Recovery' - indicated that the “the recovery of existing capacity, such as tourism post Covid-19, and existing tradable activities with large multiplier effects on the rest of the economy, such as mineral resources and agriculture, must drive growth”.
Post-Covid skill shortages are a very real concern in many sectors, and this bares huge economic and social implications upstream.
Realising how economically and socially empowering culinary and hospitality skills training can be, Roelien de Lange founded the Purple Fig Cooking School.

Know your recipe
“While doing my master's, I was the only student that year who helped with the curriculum for the new hotel school that was opening and enjoyed it a lot,” she said.
“On completion of my studies, I returned to Namibia and enjoyed a long career in hospitality. I managed hotels, worked at different lodges and also owned a restaurant named Okambihi.
"During my time as a manager and owner, I realised two major things: Firstly, that we had a lot of unschooled or semi-schooled workers in Namibia who were excellent cooks or chefs, as they had a natural ability for the more practical approach of cooking.
“And secondly, that I have a passion for helping other chefs improve their skillset and gain confidence they can one day use in a professional setting to improve their family’s livelihoods through the joy of food".

Prepare and arrange your ingredients
After choosing to retire from the hard hours of the commercial culinary world, De Lange went on to do bespoke catering for events and masterclass cooking training for children and domestic workers, which led her to encountering a talented teenager who had previously won the Namibian Young Chef of the Year Award.
“At the time, she was not the strongest student at school, but it was clear that she has an extraordinary talent.
“We were looking for a good cooking school in Namibia where she could further her career as a chef, but could not find a good institution where she could study without having passed grade 10.
“I then decided to take her and some other students with learning difficulties and special needs under my wing and help them to become chefs alongside mainstream students in an inclusive and constructive environment,” she said.
Having just returned from Abu Dhabi where she was part of the Namibian team that won a gold medal in the African Culinary Cup 2022, that same young student is now 21, a qualified chef and a business owner.

Arrange your workstation
Since its establishment some years ago, the Purple Fig Cooking School has grown to become one of the leading and most inspiring culinary academies in the country.
It is a model of inclusiveness, open to students from all backgrounds and intellectual capacity levels, and helps them gain employable skills, independence and self-confidence.
Through a multidisciplinary approach to education that combines technical and hands-on learning, the students consistently succeed in the real world.
“Namibia has a very big problem with unemployment and especially now with a lot of grade 11s leaving school who cannot further their studies. I also found that a lot of people who have learning difficulties and special needs are very practical and driven to succeed, so we’re very proud to say that since we opened our doors, we’ve helped countless individuals achieve their career and life dreams,” De Lange said.

Arrange your tools
Students undertake a three-year training programme and follow the curriculum of the American Culinary Institute. After 16 months of hands-on training with a very practical approach at the academy, they do job attachments for 14 months at some of the best restaurants, hotels and lodges in Namibia.
“We recently partnered up with Gondwana, where most of our students will go for in-service training, which is incredible as our students are exposed to a very high level of mentorship during these attachments. After that, they are back with us for six months to complete their pastry course before graduating into this very fulfilling career.”
Sadly, due to regulatory restraints, the academy has been denied Namibia Qualifications Authority accreditation as prerequisites include a minimum grade 10 education level.
“We are working very hard to get all our courses accredited, as this would open up so many doors for our students, especially those who with what would be traditionally labelled as learning difficulties,” she said.

Get cooking!
“We are committed to providing excellent education, training and resources so that our students will thrive in today’s competitive world. With flexible programme options and great instructors, we’re sure you’ll be satisfied with your education or even skills training to help you become a better and more nutritious chef at home,” De Lange said.
For more information on the Purple Fig Cooking School's professional culinary training courses, or to join regular theme nights and home chef masterclass evenings, call 081 234 5657 or visit purplefigcookingschool.com.