Jean, who became a professional chef in 1998, has dedicated his life to training both refugees and Kenyans in the art of French cuisine. “I really love cooking. It is in my blood,” Jean said when we visited him at one of the weekly catering classes that he leads in Nairobi, Kenya. John was busy teaching three students how to prepare chicken baked in custard sauce, oven roasted potatoes, fish, rice, pasta and steamed vegetables.
Each day, Jean works as a chef in different homes and areas of Nairobi. He also offers catering classes to both refugees and Kenyans. He has trained 100 students since he began teaching! “I am proud because they (the students) have knowledge. When I leave this world without teaching others, I will go with my knowledge, but if I give it to people, they will continue to support themselves, help their families, and build the country because they are working citizens.”
When Jean was younger, he worked at a house as a cleaner and used to peep through the kitchen window and watch as the cook prepared the day’s meal. One day, the owner of the house noticed Jean observing the cook and asked what he was doing. When Jean shared that he had a passion for cooking and a desire to learn more, the owner, who was a trained chef himself, offered to teach Jean twice a week. “He paid for me to study catering in a hotel in Bujumbura and I went to study there,” Jean shared. “I thank him so much. I think if it wasn’t for him, I don’t know what I would be doing now. I learned mechanics and failed and I learned making lights and construction and failed. My cooking career is a talent,” Jean shared.
For Jean, being able to work and support his family’s needs has been extremely important. “This work means a lot to me,” Jean said. “I got married doing this job and I have five children who have been supported by this job. If I came to Nairobi as a refugee and I didn’t know how to cook, I don’t know what life would be like,” Jean shared.
In many asylum countries, refugees face numerous barriers to engage in work that is commensurate with their professional experience. “Some people think that when refugees come, they come with baggage. But they also come with knowledge and that knowledge helps build a progressive country,” Jean shared. At RefugePoint, we work with refugees so that they can build stable, connected and thriving lives. We provide business training and small grants for refugees to start and sustain businesses so that they are able to meet their essential needs. Jean is one of many refugees who have benefited from this service. He hopes to open a restaurant to cater to his growing number of customers.