New Zealand Chefs Jaimie Stodler and Josephin Geimecke, of Cup & Cake Queenstown Volunteer in Sri Lanka
Award Winning New Zealand Chefs Jaimie Stodler and Josephin Geimecke, of Cup & Cake Queenstown, volunteered at the MJF Charity Foundation from 3rd - 6th February 2017. Their time, knowledge and kindness benefited hundreds of impoverished kids and young adults at the MJF Charitable Foundation; it's been an amazing journey for the MJF kids, cerebral palsy kids and kids with other developmental disorders, and empowered women in the Women's Development Programme.
The volunteer chefs got their hands dirty at the Organic Farm (DCSARC), played with puppets with marginalised kids pulled out poverty by the MJF Foundation, conducted baking lessons for mothers in the Women's Development Program, taught the Empower Culinary and Hospitality School's new batch theory on the basics of baking (with a hands-on practical lesson to making a Tea Inspired Earl Grey tea-infused cupcake), participated in dancing classes and "Drama lessons” with students of the Rainbow Centre, played volleyball with the teachers, volunteered at Mankada and Dilmah Conversation projects in Uda Walawe, helped at the school of inspiration in Koulara during a crafts class, and prepared healthy dishes at the National Centre for Children with Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Disorders while teaching the parents and teachers how to as well.
We welcome them with open arms to Dilmah's Ethical Tea Society and thank them for all that they do.
"The opportunity to meet and hang out with these children was amazing, a life changing experience that I know both Josie and I felt. For that I cannot even begin to thank you for organising this, or for allowing us to be a part of the MJF Foundation, Cerebral Palsy Centre & the School of Inspiration. All of the kids we so great! Being a mom it's hard to be away from your child, but being with these kids was such a great consolation.
The chance to meet and work with all of the people within MJF foundation and the Dilmah School of Tea was life changing. Sri Lanka is an absolute diamond. The people, the scenery, and the culture was totally unique to anything I have experienced, and watching what Dilmah, and specifically Merrill and Dilhan have created is so inspiring. It's amazing what you can achieve with an awesome team to back you. As a business owner I am forever changed." - Jamie Stodler, chef and owner of Cup & Cake, Queenstown, New Zealand.